TO THE EDITOR

TO THE EDITOR

When significant things (especially surprises) occur in human affairs and organizations, it is healthy to try to understand how and why. I believe this applies to the recent decision by the school board to increase taxes to help cover a "surprise" downturn of $572,000 in SPLOST revenue for the payments on the new high school under construction.

This proposal was introduced just two weeks prior to the requirement for a new fiscal year budget, leaving little if any time for public input or reasonable consideration of alternatives. In fact, time is so short the board adopted a spending resolution allowing the school system to operate during July without an approved fiscal year budget.

And finally, no meeting date was established to finalize the budget, seemingly making it even more difficult to have an open and well-considered resolution of the budget for next year, including the proposed tax increase.

Why does the board find itself having to operate in an "emergency" mode? Lincoln is not the only county having to deal with such budget issues resulting from downturns in the economy and sales tax revenues. Downturns in SPLOST revenues are not a surprise. Others have been dealing with such issues for months, and have had open discussions for months regarding budgeting for next fiscal year. In fact, in Lincoln County, the board of commissioners have been openly dealing with these issues for months. What about the school board?

If the public is to pay for this situation, then I think it needs to hear where the responsibilities lie, not for recriminations but to help assure that remedies are sought for the future. This is not a time to increase taxes. Why can't other cuts be made in the General Fund or in other expenses incidental to construction? Who on the board is assigned to oversee finances? I think the chairman and the superintendent should explain some of these issues to the taxpayers before tax increases are finally approved.

JB MATHEWS