The Joy of......

School Budgets!

In spite of all the school administrative consolidation talk, there is still lack of consensus regarding the control and funding of the public schools in Maine. For me, it's simple; whoever is paying for it should control it. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.

According to figures included in a recent Bangor Daily News editorial, "Since the 2004-2005 biennium.......State funding to local school districts will have increased by 37 percent from 2006 to 2009."

"The schools have spent this additional [money] as if it were a windfall instead of being meant for property tax relief," said Rep. Henry Joy, who is a retired school superintendent and longtime Republican legislator.

According to the editorial, Joy has introduced a bill to reduce the state's share of the cost of K-12 public education from the LD-1 targeted 55 percent to 49 percent. Requiring a majority share of cost locally would in turn maintain local control.

With student populations continuing to decline, and the costs of education soaring at above average levels, something has to give.

Give us Joy!