WE.CONNECT.DOTS: “Who is to blame for the school budget mess we have in Harrisburg?” the pollsters ask.
By Dick Miller
Governor Wolf?
Legislators?
Republicans or Democrats?
All of the above certainly bear some burden, but, so does each one of us.
We allowed these so-called public officials to be elected or re-elected.
A split ballot that included Democrat Gov. Wolf and a Republican state representative or senator guaranteed a government battle just like what is now taking place. You did not have to vote that way, but if you kept silent about strong objections to either candidacy, you are part of the problem.
How many times, beginning in 2008, was the inclination to vote Obama for President and then allow a Republican Tea Bagger from Western Pennsylvania to occupy a seat in Congress?
This column is not intended to be “partisan-ly” judgmental, promoting either conservative or liberal positions.
Maybe we do have too much government? Perhaps our taxes are already too high? Does public education need to undergo change? Do public employee unions need corralled?
Too many local public servants are ignorant, indifferent or afraid to take an open position on the conduct of lawmakers who control their monies and limit their activities.
Some who really do know the score refuse to be involved in politics. They think “politics” is beneath them. They are in business and don’t want to antagonize some of their customers.
Blame needs cast over a wider net, to include school board members, school officials, public school teachers, town council members, township supervisors, municipal managers, and directors and executives of non-profits that also depend upon funds from the state.
These are the local leaders whose voices could make a difference at election time. They remain silent and commiserate when about to raise local property taxes.
Who can citizens rely on for non-partisan advice about whom to vote? Local lame media abandoned its duty to inform about candidates a generation ago. If coverage exists it is limited to voters’ guides with meaningless questions often suggested by the League of Women Voters.
Later this month school board members and superintendents of all local districts in Midwestern Intermediate District IV (covers Butler, Mercer and Lawrence counties) will conduct an open forum about the current state budget impasse.
Supposedly, state lawmakers will be invited to attend, but not asked to speak. Did organizers deliberately schedule the forum for Feb. 23, a Tuesday, when lawmakers are almost certain to be in Harrisburg?
Because most lawmakers have been gerrymandered into lifetime jobs that can be much easier when they cozy up to leadership, what will the event accomplish?
Every day our legislators are at the state capitol is one less day they do not have to face voters at home. They know that if they don’t vote to raise state taxes, most local districts will have to hike property taxes. Because school board members remain silent (“non-political”), lawmakers know they will not be blamed.
Reportedly in 2013, one small group of school board members threatened a state representative for her continued vote to slash school funds under former Gov. Tom Corbett. In 2014, as she galloped to another state office, they remained silent.
In 2014 a fund raiser for then candidate Tom Wolf was held in New Castle. Superintendents (most making much more than $100,000 a year) were solicited for contributions. Wolf campaigned to restore funding to public education, Corbett indicated he would continue cutting.
Only three superintendents responded with donations to Wolf, the eventual winner.
Politics remains an unsavory, “get-your-hands-dirty” activity, apparently not worth fighting for the benefit of local schools or your community.
The financial picture at local school districts is even murkier, especially if they borrowed to pay operating expenses. The funds were designated as “tax-anticipation notes” (TANs) which is a stretch because the “anticipation” is on state appropriations and not local levies. Second, TANs must be retired within the same fiscal year, without court approval.
Bottom Line: We have met the enemy and he is us.
