Board borrowed from itself (03/07/2009)

To the editor:

Last week's school board meeting contained some great political theater. Members played their parts so well that even a veteran of many performances, Jack Ronald, was moved to editorialize what a deliberate and thoughtful body they were.

A lengthy discussion was held as to how to pay for $300,000 in heating and air conditioning work as part of the East Elementary renovation. Dr. Long suggested borrowing up to $3 million to pay for that and work in several other buildings. Members Masters, Wellman and Halstead were quoted to varying degrees as being uncertain of that approach.

The lack of available funds and the need for work did not come upon the board as a surprise. During my tenure on the board, Mr. DeRome from the finance office and Mr. Krieg and the maintenance crew were pretty good at "driving at the edge of the headlights" to inform the board well in advance of funding problems and facility issues that would need to be addressed in the future. I'm sure that's still the case.

Let's review. Mr. Masters, Mr. Wellman and Mr. Halstead were among those who voted to take $750,000 from the capital projects fund to save toward an auxillary gym. A while ago the board voted to borrow the balance to construct that gym, but after a public uproar that idea was abandoned and they found a way to build it without borrowing.

Let me predict what will happen in the near future. The board will vote to borrow about $2 million (you throw out a higher number in the beginning and it makes a lower one more acceptable) to do the work. Now who in the community could possibly oppose doing heating and AC upgrades?

Though it has taken a few months, the board will then have accomplished the original goal of borrowing $2 million for the gym. Dr. Long will probably come up with some line of reasoning how this is "tax neutral."

Mr. Wellman said he wanted to "think about it." What's to think about? You spent the money on a "want" and now you'll have to borrow to take care of a "need." The new gym will be used, but on a priority scale it certain ranks farther down than heating and cooling.

Duane Starr

Portland[[In-content Ad]]