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EDITORIAL: Millage requests for HG, Bryant deserve support |
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Sunday, 09 September 2007 |
We’re like you anytime there’s a local tax election on the table. We want to know how much taxpayer money is involved, the length of the commitment, what exactly the money will be used for, and how great the need for the additional tax dollars.
We know that city, county or school district officials invariably say the need is great; otherwise they wouldn’t be asking for taxpayer money. We also realize, however, that their perception of urgency can differ from the public’s.
That’s especially true with school districts. We don’t know of any taxpayer-funded entities that feel there’s ever enough money in the coffers. School districts are notorious for feeling financially deprived.
In fairness, it does take a considerable amount of money for school districts to maintain facilities, particularly if a district is experiencing growth that exceeds projections. That’s a small reason why the Legislature did what the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered and earmarked a good chunk of the state’s surplus for facilities upgrades at school districts throughout Arkansas. The larger reason, of course, is because there are a lot of poor school districts in parts of the state that don’t have the tax base of some of the so-called privileged districts.
Our point is twofold: One, some school districts don’t realize just how good they have it. Maybe officials from these districts should visit districts that are in the economically distressed regions of Arkansas. Two — and we have said this numerous times — money is not the ultimate answer for better education in Arkansas, especially if the money is not spent where it is most needed.
All of this said, we are not suggesting that even school districts that are not in fiscal peril don’t have legitimate needs for more taxpayer money. A district should not be penalized because it either is growing faster than anticipated or because it desires to improve facilities or add programs that can be beneficial to both the school district and the community.
Such is the case, we think, with the Bryant and Harmony Grove school districts, which are seeking millage increases.
Bryant is asking for an increase of 6.2 mills to fund additions and improvements, most of them on its sprawling high school campus. The increase would generate about $36 million, Superintendent Dr. Richard Abernathy said, and would raise Bryant’s millage rate to 39.6 mills.
Harmony Grove is asking for an increase of 2.3 mills to fund the start of a football program for the district. The increase would generate about $1 million, Superintendent Daniel Henley said, and would raise Harmony Grove’s millage rate to 42 mills, which would be the highest among Saline County’s four public school districts.
Bryant used its previous millage increase to build two new schools — Bethel Middle School, a state-of-the-art facility that opened last fall, and Hurricane Creek Elementary School, which opens this fall. Abernathy said money from the current millage increase, if it is approved, will be used to add classrooms, a gymnasium, multimedia rooms and a cafeteria on the high school campus. The money also will be used for a 2,500-seat performing arts center, an auditorium featuring fine arts classrooms, the construction of other buildings, and the demolition of several old buildings.
Henley said Harmony Grove will use its millage increase, if it is approved, to purchase football equipment and to build a 1,250-seat football stadium. The football program would begin in grades 5-8, Henley said, and one grade would be added each year. Harmony Grove has a storied basketball program but is the only district in the county without a football program.
We think the needs for both districts are legitimate and timely, and in the case of Harmony Grove, beneficial to the community as well as the school district. We take district officials at their word when they tell us that the money will be used for the proposed projects the districts have outlined.
We recommend that patrons of both districts vote for the respective millage increases when early voting begins Tuesday.
Early voting will continue from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Monday, Sept. 17, the county clerk’s office at the Saline County Annex at 215 N. Main St. in Downtown Benton. The school election is Tuesday, Sept. 18, and also includes contested school board races in the Benton and Bauxite districts.
It’s your money, certainly, but also remember when you vote for these millage proposals that you are investing in the future, because our students are the future.
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Razorbacks
