[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Possible Deal Breaker

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Possible Deal Breaker
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1219119850.shtml


   To the amazement of some of my commenters, I generally advocate voting
   yes on public school operating levy referendums. Here's my reasoning:
    1. I fail to see why school districts cannot set their tax rates like
       the city and the county. The Board of Directors is elected, just
       like the City Council Members and County Commissioners.
    2. As a result, the District spends considerable time and money
       preparing and promoting these referendums, resources lost to the
       original purpose of education.
    3. It doesn't seem to be much of a fiscal brake. School spending has
       at least doubled in real dollars the past 40 years regardless.
    4. As a result, we don't have hard accountability for disappointing
       results. The District can claim it was a result of inadequate
       funds.
    5. The kids suffer while the adults argue, for the District won't cut
       the budget where levy opponents expect them to cut.
    6. School financial statements are hard to understand, on purpose it
       would seem, and therefore it is difficult for the average voter to
       assess.

   That doesn't mean I won't vote no if I think the District is being
   deceptive, greedy, or lazy. I have found that referendums for
   "investments in technology" are often highly suspect for one or more
   of those reasons, for example.
   Since 2004, there is a new reason to vote no: inflation clauses. Prime
   Minister Pawlenty uncharacteristically stood firm when the Legislature
   tried to put similar automatic spending increases in one or more state
   spending bills. Inflation is a reality, but to simply write it in
   without considering alternatives is, well, lazy.
   In the case of referendums, it isn't even necessary. Calculate the
   expected inflation over its term and raise the levy amount
   accordingly. If you feel uncomfortable projecting that 5, 7 or 10
   years out, shorten the term to where you are comfortable. If you would
   otherwise bump up against the maximum levy (on which I strongly
   disagreed with Pawlenty), you're being deceptive, especially when
   you're not using the standard Consumer Price Index.
   The referendum language adopted tonight by District 281 includes such
   an inflation clause. My normally automatic "yea" vote is on hold while
   I study it further.