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They're at it again
The county is broke, and apparently -- in the eyes of some in county government -- the school system lives in a fantasy world allotting funds for unnecessary expenditures.
The county recently took $27.8 million in "education reserves" back from the schools, saying it needed the money to help plug a budget shortfall, estimated next fiscal year to be $157 million (that is, if no tax-rate increase is approved).
This announcement came out of left field for the School Board. In fact, even the county's supervisors didn't know what the county staff members were plotting until five days before the School Board was notified. Board of Supervisors chairman Scott York and vice chairwoman Susan Buckley were the first supervisors to get the news from county staff Oct. 9.
The School Board had worked to save that $27.8 million, planning to use it in even leaner times expected to come next year.
What the county did was legal, and it's true that it needs to look at every possibility to add revenues. But still, the action may not have been well-advised. Taking the savings back was not a good way to reward frugality among county departments. Next time a county department sees ways it can cut back even more to save up for the future, staff will likely remember this and decide to just spend the money so they don't lose it.
Not only that, but this incident will only further divide the School Board and Board of Supervisors, which need to work together for Loudoun's children. The strikingly poor way in which the decision was communicated from county staff to supervisors to the School Board just added insult to injury.
The School Board and the Board of Supervisors, which long have been drifting apart, need to find a way to hash out their differences. Taxpayers expect that. The next joint meeting is Nov. 12. Both groups need to agree to talk, and talk cooperatively -- without any posturing or theatrics.
The county government is facing a difficult budget season -- a thankless job in a recession -- and its responsibilities are great.
Meanwhile, Loudoun's schools are doing outstanding work in giving the children of this county wonderful educational opportunities. Loudoun's outstanding 93.6 percent graduation rate is proof.
We appreciate both entities' efforts, but now it's time for them to work together.
Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) says "everything is on the table" regarding the $1.4 billion budget. The School Board and supervisors need to come to that table together. Whether it's four-day workweeks, tax increases or maybe even another look at closing some schools, the county's various stewards need to hash it out together.
We see now that the schools can find more ways to cut back, and they should not give up on that laudable initiative. For its part, the county should figure out how to reward rather than punish the School Board for that ?and maybe even learn from the school system as to how it made those extra cuts.
Just as responsible estranged parents can put aside their differences for the children's best interest, the School Board and the Board of Supervisors can set aside their lingering resentments and work together for Loudoun residents and especially our children.
Together, the two boards must balance the county's overall needs but also make sure to continue providing a first-rate education for our children and grandchildren.
Especially with 3,000 more students expected next year, the children's future depends on the steps we take now.
The LC School Board is out of control; when is this county going to regain control? The SB should NEVER have had this much power in the first place and they live in a fantasy world where they feel entitled to very dime of taxpayer money. I do not have children so I should be exempt from school taxes, this is infuriating to read about. The SB is filled with idiots running loose who exhibit no fiscal responsibility whatsoever and take their cues from umemployed soccer moms who only excel at spending their husband's money and yell about raising taxes to support the schools.
Heather Junkins, Leesburg
Posted by hjunkins
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