Lottery Money And
Consolidation
Whatever happened
to the state lottery money that was designated to go to
education?
Proponents of the lottery system
gave us all kinds of indications that the funding of education would no longer
be a problem.
Now with school officials in
Sullivan County and throughout New York State having to make difficult decisions
with their 2013 school budgets......we question the State of New York to give
everyone answers as to where the lottery money is going and why must our
educational systems be facing a crisis.
Statewide our school districts are
anticipating cuts which include elimination of jobs, closing some of their
schools, trimming back athletic programs and slashing art and music
programs.
School districts also have to
consider the state-imposed tax cap
The dismal economic news just is not
improving and school boards find it difficult to cut teaching positions and
programs but everyone is faced with unprecedented financial
challenges.
Consolidation is often talked about
but never seems to get out of the starting gate.
Those advocating school consolidation
say we must cut costs and that the present economic picture demands districts to
share and consolidate.
The need to restructure school
districts can start first with regionalizing both teaching and non-teaching
services.......a good example recently noted was Sullivan County BOCES sharing
electrical work within county schools.
This is not a favorite subject for
school districts but everyone must begin looking for regional savings that will
cut costs and help school districts balance their budgets.
We continue to remind everyone that
New Yorkers have the distinct honor of having the highest tax burden in the
country and some of these unpopular subjects like consolidation can help to
solve many problems facing us.
We must not forget that state lottery
money topic as it's time all of us demand answers as to where that lottery money
is going.
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