Voters once again have said a resounding “NO” to giving our school system more money. We can’t say we were too surprised when we consider the fact that this isn’t the first time. We’ve been asked several times “what do they (the voters) want?”
The obvious answer is “no more taxes”.
Another question that’s been repeated to us is “what went wrong?”
We’ve spent time thinking about that one and it might have more than one answer. First we are living in a time of war – that has effects on our economy. Then there are the natural disasters that, although many miles from here, have had an effect on our own pocketbooks with higher prices for things like gasoline, food – well, this list could go on, but let’s just say we’re paying more for nearly everything because it either costs more to deliver it, or there’s a short supply. Then there’s the news that our heating costs will be MUCH higher this winter. These are probably too many negatives facing everyone being asked to approve an increase in property taxes.
Another thought might be that voters were being asked too many questions. Maybe one or two might have had a better chance, but not three. Yes, we could pick and choose with three questions, but when people added all three together it might not have been a good picture. Obviously it wasn’t. Although the votes weren’t far apart, the nays prevailed – again.
To be honest, we wouldn’t want to be faced with the problems our school system will face in the coming months. There are serious issues with building maintenance, rising costs, and we can’t forget the space concerns. Are there answers – there always are, but what the failure to get more money is going to mean to the school system is that eventually programs are going to be cut. And class sizes will increase. Fees may have to be added for what’s been offered at little or no cost to those participating in extra-curricular activities.
At some point the school is going to need more money; if not for a new school, at least to keep operating. If not, things will have to change in what’s offered to our students. Maybe one answer would be to go to full-time schooling – utilize the building space that sits empty three months of the year. That too could mean higher costs (we don’t think we could expect students and teachers to attend school in the summer heat without air conditioning; teachers would have a year-round job and would have to be paid more). But, year-round school could help with space problems.
Something has to happen with our school system budget. This area has grown tremendously in the past several years – one of the reasons is the reputation of our school system. It’s a reputation worth protecting.
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They come out at night . . . climbing out from the rock they live under . . . they’re slime, and come in different colors and shapes. What are they? Nope, they’re not slugs, not snakes, nor are they any other bug God created, they are thieves!
As we’ve mentioned before, we are in the process of building a home in Cold Spring. For reasons we won’t take the time to explain, we decided to finish sheetrocking the few walls that were left when the delivery of a couple bathtubs took longer than expected – not a problem generated by anyone local, the manufacturer ran out of gel-coat.
We knew this would take us a few evenings to complete and would gain us two or three days toward the completion of the home because the sheetrockers were busy with other things and couldn’t get back at ours soon enough.
The Thursday night before the deer hunting opener was spent hanging a few sheets – we decided we’d leave the tools needed at the house. Sunday we went back to finish and discovered our front door open, and tools missing. Almost $600 worth (replacement cost).
We were not happy. It wasn’t so much the $600, but it meant we had to take time to go to St. Cloud to get more tools so we could finish since the tapers were coming back Monday expecting the sheetrocking to be done. This is important because there are things we intend to do in the finishing of our home, and we gave our notice to our landlord that we’d be moving out before the first of the year.
It also irritated us because we felt violated. Some scum entered our home and took the few things of value that were there. We know we aren’t the only ones this happens to. While at the store we were told by an employee we were the second that day, and the sixth that week that had things stolen from a construction site.
It would be fun to catch these predators . . . proper punishment might be to require they finish the job they interrupt. Then they should try finding an honest way to make a living, rather than being scavengers and taking advantage of people who tend to trust others.
We know it could have been worse, there are things this individual (or more) could have done while they were inside the home, but that doesn’t make this any less irritating. Maybe someday they’ll grow up and mature enough to hold a regular job.
Have A Good Week!
Mike Austreng
For more comments on why the referendum failed and to share your own opinion check out:
WHY DID THE REFERENDUM FAIL?
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