The School Board, Dr. Wargo and Ms. Booth presented a budget to the Board of Supervisors on February 29th that supposedly includes “efficiencies”.  Only in government can you say that money you aren’t spending is a savings.  I can find many such efficiencies in my household budget.  For example, that cruise on the Queen Mary I don’t have the money for is a budget “efficiency” since I won’t be buying a ticket this year.  I would also really like to run my personal budget like the school board does. I wish I could list everything I must buy and everything I would like to buy and then hand someone else the bill.

On January 8th, 2024, The school board unanimously approved a $23 million dollar spending plan for the 2024/2025 without a single question from any school board member and without any revenue estimates being presented or published. This happened in the same meeting where each board member took an oath to make decisions based on facts.  On February 29, 2024 the school board and division leadership presented the bill to the Board of Supervisors and asked for full funding – just like in prior years.  At least this presentation contained revenue estimates.  

The school board and Division leadership say they need more money because the index used to determine state funding has changed. In fact, however, the February 29th presentation showed that state funding is projected to be larger than it was the last time we had the same index.

What is going on here?

Student population is decreasing, state funds are projected to increase, ‘efficiencies’ in the budget have been found and yet, county funding needs to increase?  It makes no sense – it defies logic.  Remember, ‘county funding’ is just government speak for ‘here’s your tax bill, complete with a 25% increase per household since 2022.’  

Teacher and employee wages must be protected and certain costs are beyond control – insurance and utilities for example.   Perhaps greater efficiencies in the School Board budget could be achieved by curbing that $15,000 to $30,000 per month spending with Amazon and money for “school board appreciation gifts”.

It’s up to the Board of Supervisors now to make sure this spending gets under control before your taxes go up again to support the School Board appetite for more money.

For a short history of the continuous increases in school board budgets check out this video: https://rumble.com/v4e152r-enough-is-enough-on-school-board-budget-increases.html.