Letter to the Editor: Don’t Budge on the Budget

As you can tell by the recent mailing, it’s time for the tri-annual slap in the face by the Sturgeon Bay School District, flaunting its inability to operate its business of education in a fiscally sound manner as a badge of honor instead of calling it what it is: poor fiscal management. And our elected school board members bury their collective heads in the sand and ignore the problem rather than holding the school district accountable for this lack of fiscal management.

Why do we allow the school district to continually exceed its budget and then expect the taxpayers to dole out more money to cover their excesses? Declining enrollment shouldn’t result in added costs. The city has an increasing level of senior citizens on fixed incomes, trying desperately to hold on to their lifelong homes, now being told that their battle will be even harder because the school district fails to care enough to operate within its budget. Should they sacrifice meals or worse yet, medications, to assuage the fiscal gluttony of our school district administration? It’s time to take a stand and say “no.” No more money to accommodate their wasteful spending habits!

We need to stay within our family budgets. Successful businesses need to stay within their budgets. The school district should be no different. Cut unnecessary classes. Eliminate teacher aids in classrooms that aren’t full. Have parents cover more of the costs of activities. Do we really need to pay for a class trip to Washington D. C.? The chaperones can pay their own way as well as students. The only way that any type of revenue limit override should be allowed is if it is tied to additional cost reductions by the school district, such as wage freezes and additional fee collections for student activities. The original reason for the allowance of school districts to request additional funding was for unexpected operating costs such as a new roof or heating system. Not for wasteful spending habits. Money can be saved without sacrificing education quality. A “no” vote on the Sturgeon Bay School District referendum is a vote for fiscal responsibility. It’s time that we don’t budge on the school district budget.

Del Phillips

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.