Madville Times launches catalog of K-12 cuts.
The Madison Central School District may provide $360,000 less in educational services next year, courtesy of the radical and unnecessary austerity budget passed by our Senator Russell Olson and Governor Dennis Daugaard. That's less of a cut than the $552,000 that Senator Olson originally thought would be "a good idea" for our school district. Unlike Senator Olson, I refuse to celebrate a 6.6% cut in state aid. It may soften the blow, but it still blows.
Madison superintendent Vince Schaefer says we already have three teachers retiring whom the district can choose not to replace. That may shrink the shortfall to $210,000 this year, which we may be able to cover with our current opt-out. But given that a chunk of the state aid provided by the Legislature is one-time money, the district will have to stay alert for more cuts to make next year. Perhaps the March 28 "public work session" should dedicate half of its time to getting ideas from the public for budget priorities, as the Watertown School District is doing that same night.
http://www.brookingsregister.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=10633&page=76
Do you remember Daugaard's campaign add method of balancing a budget. He built a house bigger than he had money for so he just waited till more money came in and paid the rest. For someone who was born to a family farm that did not have to be bought for three or four generations, that is landing with your butt in the butter and still not able to count well enough to stay within a budget. So now he wants everyone else to cut cut cut while in his own life he just waits till another crop comes in so he can have everything like he wants it. If you never were poor you really never get it. Education is the poormans way out. Cut that and you cut the future for generations. You are still to much of a farmboy to be governor of a whole state. Well maybe he makes good farm policy. I have not seen his farm policy but hopefully it is good. Although with five dollar corn you really do not need a plan other than the seat of your pants.
Thanks for starting this up Cory--I have been suggesting to people that a project like this is necessary, and your blog, with its high profile, is a good place to house it. If we hope to hold legislators accountable for this year's budget, a document detailing to precise results of those cuts, especially to education, is required. I hope concerned South Dakotans from all over the state will submit information to make this list as comprehensive as possible.
[CAH: Thank you, Brett! I'm glad to put your fine idea into action.]
This article might help a bit.
[CAH: a bit? Try a lot! Thanks! But oh, what grim reading.]
A flat 10% across the board cut does not identify specific waste in various departments or state programs that are no longer viable for funding.
It is what simple people do to address a complex problem. The Governor saved money by transfering the State’s obligated expenses to all of us, as local taxpayers.
Taxpayers saved nothing and will in fact, pay much more locally through school opt outs property tax increases and county indigent funding.
[CAH—Note to self: do not advocate across-the-board cuts at the school board candidates' forum on April 5!]
http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=14294988