Get out and vote on April 1

Much discussion and many letters have been published on this website and in local newspapers so that everyone should be aware of what the issues are regarding the Fieldcrest tax referendum. The Fieldcrest school board is asking for a $.90 increase in the education fund tax rate. The increased tax rate, if passed, will help the school district to overcome a reduction in state funding partly due to a decrease in farm land assessment values for this area. In addition, the state is facing a sizable budget deficit and may cut education funding even further.

To help meet expenses for the next school year, the school administration is proposing cuts totaling $608,016. The cuts would include reductions in administration, programs at all levels and extra curriculars. Even with these cuts, the school will still face a deficit of $250,000 for next year. Therefore, if the tax referendum is passed a deficit can be avoided. If not, the school must make additional cuts or be forced to borrow money which will add additional costs in the form of interest payments.

Fieldcrest is not alone in its financial woes. About 80% of the school districts in the state are experiencing a financial crisis. Fieldcrest's current rate of $2.97 is second lowest in the Midstate Conference and it's cost per student is $6,574 to the state average of $7,926.

Even though Fieldcrest appears to have been been fiscally responsible compared to other schools, with the state of the economy, people do not want to cough up hundreds of dollars extra per year on their property taxes. The biggest problem facing Fieldcrest is that even though we have a quality school system, it is not supported by a commensurate tax base. In other words, we are in a relatively poor district.

It does not do any good to claim that school districts overspent when times were good and did not save for the rainy day that we all face now. We all are guilty of that crime. As individuals we've had to cut back and so will the school district. It is in times like these that we are forced to examine what really is important in our education system. As a former athlete I find no problem in cutting back on sports before we cut music, art, or vocational trades.

You the voter must decide how important education is to our community, realizing that the quality of a community is directed related to the quality of the school system. Looking at it this way, a poor school system will lower property values and we lose again. On the other hand, you must also consider if additional cuts can be made without compromising the quality of education in our schools.

If you vote for the tax referendum, Fieldcrest will not have to remain on the state's "Financial Early Warning" list and it will be able to regain financial solvency for the foreseeable future. In addition, many of our extra curriculars can be retained, the quality of education can hopefully be maintained and we can continue to attract good teachers. In addition, your taxes will increase anywhere from $100 to $500 per year depending on how much property you own.

If you vote no for the referendum, you are saying that Fieldcrest can make additional cuts that will not seriously damage the quality of education. It means that Fieldcrest will have to make some real hard decisions that may mean elimation of sports and having them funded by civic groups. To some people it may mean an opportunity to cut the "fat" out of the system. It means avoiding an increase in property taxes. Finally, it means that you feel that the State of Illinois must come up with a better way of funding education rather than throwing it on the backs of the property owners each time there is a financial crisis.

You make the decision.

City election