When a person accepts a position that is dependent on tax dollars, they also accept the position that they will spend those dollars in a responsible manner. The proposed sales tax increase referendum is supposed to be used for capital improvements. We know that it would be easy to budget new dollars for improvements and shift current monies to compensation and benefits.

If you check with openthebooks.com, you will see that in the Moline, Rock Island and United Township school districts, there are 156 teachers listed who have annual earnings from $100,000 to $209,000. It would seem their budgeting process is centered on salaries and not capital improvements. Seems like the average Rock Island County taxpayer's income has a long way to go to catch up with the teachers they support.

The idea that we should vote in a tax increase for capital improvements is the usual promotion of the school board and teachers union. Why is it that we never hear of them cutting back on expenses to provide any needed additional dollars?

They ask us to approve more taxes for them and yet they limit the public use of these buildings.

Let’s make sure this referendum is defeated, as it has been at least twice before, until those in charge can modify the budgeting process to the needs of the public and students, not the administration.

Original Article, click here.