It is time to dispel a few questions that have been brought up regarding the request by the Chesterfield County School System for permission to obtain a $88 million bond-funded by a 1% sales tax. Here is how I see it:
Schools have two ways of funding the operation of the system. The first one is the use of a property tax. This tax provides a continuing, reliable source of funds, which are used for everyday expenditures. This tax pays salaries, utilities, building maintenance, and other day-to-day expenses.
The other principal funding source would be a bond issue. This money is used for capital projects, usually building a new school. It is not used for small incidental items. Let’s look at what the school board wants to use this bond for.
Safety and Security upgrades for facilities throughout the school district
- Installation of additional fencing
- Installation of keyless entry for exterior doors
Now I ask you, do you need $88 million to change locks and put up some fencing?
Upgrades to athletic facilities
- Renovation of the existing gym at Cheraw High School
- Installation of new track and football fields at all district high schools
- Expansion of weight rooms at all school district high schools
Once again, do you need $88 million to expand a weight room? Why are we renovating a gym? What’s wrong with it? And do we need new track and football fields when only 3 out of 10 system graduates are proficient in math and English?
Since when do we need digital marquees at a school? Why do we need a covered walkway at a school? And since when does playground equipment cost $88 million? And why do we need repairs and renovations when the school system is supposed to have a qualified maintenance staff that keeps our schools in pristine condition?
Now here are the capital projects they want the $88 million for:
Sounds important, but consider :
The School Board wants to borrow $88 million for a school system that is in decline. They want to build a new cafeteria in a school with an enrollment down by 25%! They want to put more classrooms in a school that has a 15% decline in enrollment. This board wants to spend your money on pet projects that will not do one thing to improve the education of the students in Chesterfield County who are being denied the education that we are paying over $17,000 per student every year.
On election day, we can replace five of the nine seats on the school board. If we can do that, we have five new members who can bring change to the school system, and with us making sure that they work to increase education and decrease worthless spending, Chesterfield County might soon have a school system every citizen can be proud of, and that will provide the talent that new companies will desire when they pick Chesterfield County to set up a business.
On election day, vote for a tax cut (1% sales tax) and not a continuation of a tradition of waste in the Chesterfield County School System.