BOE Argues Over Funding

Earlier this week a forum hosted at Salisbury University was to discuss public school funding. Unfortunately for the representatives of the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE), their core assumption was shot down straight out of the box.

The WCBOE wishes to argue that that the county’s share of BOE funding has dropped to $36.2 million. In reality, the county is spending $47.3 million in FY 2012 on education.

WHY THE DISCREPANCY?

The difference lies in how the money is being spent. It is true that $36.2 million has been allocated to the BOE’s operating budget. However, $11.1 million is going to principle and interest on inconsequential items like the new James M. Bennett High School.

WCBOE comptroller Bruce Ford argues that this is “apples and oranges.” On one hand it is. On the other hand …

Tax dollars are tax dollars. They are a limited resource in Wicomico County thanks to the revenue cap. Even without a cap in place, our elected officials and entities such as the WCBOE should treat them as such.

Given that they are limited, when you increase debt service to build new schools (a fact that Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt and the WCBOE still don’t grasp regarding plans for a new Bennett Middle School), that money has to be taken from somewhere else. Unlike the US or world economies, Wicomico is dealing with a zero-sum game (actually zero + 2%). Therefore, investment in education is investment in education. It doesn’t matter whether that money is spent on operations or capital projects.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

It’s unfortunate; but the WCBOE seems to believe that the citizens of Wicomico County are like a rigged slot machine. The BOE wants (pull the handle) and money magically comes out. That simply isn’t the case. There are limited resources which have to be spread out among ALL county services (county departments PLUS other services such as the WCBOE, the State’s Attorney’s office, Health Department, etc.).

WCBOE Superintendent John Fredericksen wants to build new schools. That requires borrowing money; which must be paid back. To quote Wicomico councilwoman Stevie Prettyman, “It’s not a matter of how much you can borrow, but what you can afford to pay back.”

Each time Fredericksen or his minions propose a new capital project (such as a new James M. Bennett Middle School) and demand that it be a palace (rather than merely functional) they need to be careful what they wish for. Other county departments have already been severely cut. The BOE needs to remember that a new school isn’t much good if you can’t afford to staff it with teachers.

After all, IT’s FOR THE CHILDREN.