MCCSC Dilemma or Dogma

The editorial in the October 25, 2005 edition of the Herald Times spins a familiar twist on an old story; blame it on the State. If a person read this editorial and was unaware of the lack of historical relevance one might actually assume that shifting funding for education is something new. The editorial called out the State Legislature and Governor Mitch Daniels but failed to highlight this practice has been going on for many years. This same tactic has been supported through several Democratic administrations including former Governors Evan Bayh, Frank O’Bannon, Joe Kernan as well as Senator Vi Simpson and State Representative Peggy Welch. This crew has shifted and delayed payments to the local school corporations with the best of them, all the while sinking our State into a deeper and deeper financial abysses.

Local governments have been clamoring for years about local control and in this case the State has been more than happy to comply by shifting a larger portion of the tax burden to the local taxpayers and from their position who could blame them it’s a win, win situation. They get to hold the line on their burgeoning State budget while not having to take the blame for shortfalls in education funding. From their perspective if local communities want to continue building crystal palaces for their offspring to be educated in then let them pay for them. This is where common sense and local school boards play their greatest role, as common sense should prevail when a budget increases by 81% in ten years and is still not enough. The simple overruling question remains, has your income increased by 81% over the last ten years? If the answer is no, and I suspect that is the answer of the majority of county residents, then it is easy to see how this “cast of characters” as the HT calls them, can get upset.

The overall cost of living index has gradually increased at a rate of around 3% per year for the last ten years. How can any public entity morally consider increasing their budget in excess of the average cost of living increase? Are taxpayers supposed to somehow feel guilty for not allowing school systems to increase their budgets by twice the cost of living? Herein lies the dilemmas, many costs associated with education are federally mandated especially the stratospheric cost of educating children with “special needs”. The MCCSC or any other school system has no other choice but comply and fund the associated cost therein. Furthermore the general public demands facilities second to none for “their” children. These grand facilities and mega sports arenas cost money, big money, which equates to big debt service funds for school systems. Teacher’s salaries and benefits, although not exorbitant, are basically non-negotiable except for increases and god forbid someone would suggest removing a teacher with tenure for poor performance. The cost of providing health insurance has increased an average of 27% a year. Transportation of children to and from school is certainly not mandatory but it’s expected. Many of the hard cost associated with the educating our children are similar to other governmental ran entities, out of control.

The dogma is all too evident whenever someone or some group suggests holding the line on education funding. The MCCSC’s justification for additional funding is essentially because they lag in funding behind other Indiana schools they should seek an increase thus increasing taxes after all they feel they've got it coming to them. The fact that MCCSC ranks 184th out of 293 school systems in per pupil spending is really immaterial. The total advertised school budget, not just the general fund, is in excess of $89 million nearly the same amount to run both the city and county governments combined. The idea that we have to spend as much as the next school system is ludicrous, this keep up with Jones’ has caused all too many to exceed their means.

The age-old rebuttal is “don’t you care about our children’s education” is simply out of touch with reality. Sure we all care about education and we all want children to get a good education. We all would like to continue to eat regularly and be able to afford a vacation once every two or three years too but that is something that many fail to realize that for the average family it is getting more and more difficult to accomplish. Children deserve to have parents at home once in awhile instead of them having to work two or three jobs to keep a roof over their head. School is but one factor, albeit an important factor in the overall upbringing of children. The MCCSC as well as every other government taxing entity should take a lesson from Governor Daniels by taking a hard look at the cost of providing their service and then make the tough choices that trim the excess. With several of the MCCSC’s administrative staff having salaries that are near the $100,000 a year mark it really wouldn’t take all that long to trim some fat. Don’t be fooled the quality of education is not directly linked to money. The fact remains as long as the taxpayers keep shoveling money their way they will continue to find ways to spend it.