No More Fat in Schools

CI-97 will hurt

Dear Editor:

CI-97, also called SOS (Stop Over Spending), looms on the horizon threatening basic services including schools, police, firefighters, and health care.

The past twenty years of budget cuts have taken their toll on schools. Schools in Eastern Montana have been hit especially hard. One reason is a funding formula based primarily on student enrollment. That formula made sense when baby boomers were having families, but it doesn’t work today.

In our elementary district, enrollment dropped by more than 30 students, which is about 1 student per classroom. That translates to around $150,000 less money in our general fund without any decrease in expenses.

If you see a stressed district superintendent, it is because he is trying to find painless ways to absorb the loss while facing higher heating costs, increases in health insurance, higher costs of materials and supplies, continuing costs of maintaining old buildings, and raises for employees which challenge the district budget but still fall short of the rate of inflation.

I cannot stress strongly enough that the fat has been cut out of our school budget. The only cuts left are those that draw blood.

CI-97 is a formula for capping state government spending based purely on numbers, not on need. Our state budget is beginning to recover with hopes of a substantial budget surplus. If this initiative passes, it will make it nearly impossible for legislators to restore funding to services that have been decimated by decades of deep cuts.

Presently, two district court decisions have stricken SOS from consideration. If the Montana State Supreme Court overturns those decisions, CI-97 could become part of our state constitution. If you see this initiative on your ballot, please don’t take any chances; just vote NO.

Susan Stanton
Librarian, Washington Middle School