Sunday, February 25, 2007
Educational spending
There are plenty of interesting developments at the state capitol these days. The payday lending bill is stuck in a Senate committee. That will probably make its’ way into my Monday newspaper column. Dog owners will be held accountable, and it is way past time. Poor folks get some tax relief and education is finally on the front burner.
Arkansas’ school districts continue to show a total disregard for taxpayers with accounting practices that do no property break out the costs of high school athletics. My friend, Dr. Ben Mays of Clinton, who serves on the state board of education, suggests that the cost might reach $200 million annually. It would seem to me that, if everything were Kosher, there would be no big secrets about what schools spend for the luxury of playing ball.
It also strikes me that the accounting may also be as poor in other budget areas. Now that the public school system is a state responsibility, it is not out of order to demand more accountability. Let’s not make a witch hunt of it yet, but just get some answers. The General Assembly is on the right track with tougher laws, but it seems to me that now might be a good time to haul some superintendents in for a few penetrating questions.
(Broadcast February 22, 2007)
Arkansas’ school districts continue to show a total disregard for taxpayers with accounting practices that do no property break out the costs of high school athletics. My friend, Dr. Ben Mays of Clinton, who serves on the state board of education, suggests that the cost might reach $200 million annually. It would seem to me that, if everything were Kosher, there would be no big secrets about what schools spend for the luxury of playing ball.
It also strikes me that the accounting may also be as poor in other budget areas. Now that the public school system is a state responsibility, it is not out of order to demand more accountability. Let’s not make a witch hunt of it yet, but just get some answers. The General Assembly is on the right track with tougher laws, but it seems to me that now might be a good time to haul some superintendents in for a few penetrating questions.
(Broadcast February 22, 2007)
