Make schools live within budgets, vote no April 7

Richard Rogers wrote the following letter to the editor published in the January 27 Dispatch/Argus. "Here we go again, the schools are asking for more money after being told no. ..... Schools need to live within their budget, just as do the residents of Rock Island County. If the schools did not spend millions of dollars to build new schools, then they would not have to raid the wallets of the taxpayer. Increasing the sales tax will increase spending across the river. ..... An increase in sales tax would harm residents just as the economy has begun to recover, 1 percent more on gas, and $2 a gallon won't last long and it will go up. ..... Rather than demand more money, change how money is spent. Combine all schools under one administration to avoid duplicated wasteful spending with multiple offices and staff. The superintendent of San Diego Schools is paid about $250,000 a year for more than 130,000 students, yet Rock Island, Moline and Sherrard pays at least $175,000 each with a county total of perhaps 11 percent of the 130,000. Makes no sense. ..... Just say NO again and again. ..... Those of us who are retired or work cannot demand more money because we spend more than our income. ..... We have to adjust; the schools need to adjust."