RI county schools squander taxes

JON NOLAND had these excellent observations in the June 5 Quad-City Times.(..... marks paragraph breaks.) "Rock Island County voters are beginning to see the light. That's a good thing. After whining and complaining how the various school districts desperately need a one percent sales tax, voters saw through the smoke to reject the tax for the third time. ..... Now, these same destitute schools are being fined by the state for giving out excessive and illegal retirement benefits. These districts are guilty of violating state law and squandering your tax dollars by not only paying hefty fines, six-figure fines in some cases, but also obligating themselves to excessive retirement packages. ..... To add insult to injury, a special audit of the East Moline School District finances is being requested. And somehow the Rock Island School District was able to find enough additional money to give six percent salary increases, far in excess of the rate of inflation. ..... One of their employees is paid $106,000 annually, teaches one class, and is responsible for writing grants. ..... This lack of financial responsibility is the reason infrastructure improvements are needed. The only way to force improvement in government is to starve it of money. ..... Remember this simple truism when the fourth effort to raise taxes is made."