Editorial - March 2003

Schools’ long-term needs must be met

March 14, 2003 - The ever-growing needs of Lincoln County’s schools present a huge challenge to the administration and to Lincoln County Commissioners who will be called upon to help shoulder that burden. Lincoln County must provide good schools for a growing population, but today those financial resources are limited.

Two new schools are opening in August and they bring the expenses of staff and utilities. Existing facilities are badly in need of repairs. Local supplements have to rise to stay competitive with other school systems during a teacher shortage

If ever there was a time for leadership, it is now.

The proposal from the school board’s budget committee calls for $2.07 million in new current expense items in addition to the $10.6 million the county spent last year.

It also asks for $1.1 million to be spent on the capital outlay budget to address facility concerns. But just to match the $16.9 million spent on schools last year, the county would have to find approximately $1.5 million in revenues , according to county officials.

So far, nobody is talking aloud about property tax increases or new bond issues, but funds will have to be found somewhere. It speaks well of the school system and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners that joint meetings are already being held on the important matter.

What lies ahead are the very difficult decisions on priorities. Some expenses will just have to wait, but others can’t. Maintenance work on some facilities are way behind, and teacher salaries have to be competitive at a time when recruiting is so difficult.

Looking further into the future, the funding issues loom even larger. School officials are considering a new elementary school for the western part of the county, possibly in 2005-2006. Soon after that a new middle school will likely be needed to replace Lincolnton Middle School, and the overflow at West and Pumpkin Center. Future plans also call for a new middle school in the North Lincoln area.

School officials and commissioners must focus on the long term. It simply won’t be enough planning to consider these huge new expenses on a year-by-year basis. Fortunately, we do have able-minded leaders within our school administration and on our county board. What’s needed now is a well thought-out, long-term financial plan that takes into account the rising expenses and the available sources of revenue. The school system and the county board should both agree on a financing strategy.

If we are prepared and organized today, the hurdles will be easy to handle tomorrow.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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