Published: November 11, 2007 05:44 pm            

TATE: Another ‘First’ for City of Firsts

Quality Western education the least expensive in state

In the Oct. 27, 2007, “Sound Off,” a writer questioned the possibility of Kokomo ever again having the opportunity to claim another City of Firsts.

It is happening now, but few people are aware of it. I have not read anything about it in either of our local newspapers, which are supposed to keep us informed of the latest news.

It seems that even the politicians missed a chance to toot the great news about our local tax, which is so controversial today.

In a statewide newspaper, Indiana Agri News, Sept. 21 issue, it was reported by Mr. Don Villwock, president of the Indiana Farm Bureau, that the recent report from the state Department of Local Government Finance “Report on Expenditures per Capita” that “of Indiana’s 92 counties, Clay County had the lowest county government expenditures per person at $215.62. While Newton County had the highest at $2,804.40.

“Of the 1,008 Indiana Townships with population ranging from 44 to 167,055 Wabash Township Gibson County had the highest per capita spending with $694.44 per person.”

My question is, why can’t our local politicians, those in charge of spending our tax dollars, find out how other cities, counties and townships are spending their tax dollars wisely and follow their example? I think that they would find that not all requests asked for by departments or committees of local government have to be granted to them.

I understand that if a government agency doesn’t spend the total budget one year, that the following year their budget will be cut. So why not ask for more and more and spend and spend, it protects their job. Can’t the gatekeepers of our tax dollars get it? I am sure that if any of the commissioners, who are carekeepers of our tax dollars, (I would like to have a good name for them) are reading this article, are saying that the low budget counties, cities or townships are not getting the services they deserve.

Good news: Also, the article by Mr. Vollwock states that “there are 293 Indiana school corporations with student populations ranging from 30 to as many as 38,018 students.

“The highest per student expenditures was River Forest Community School Corporation in Lake County at $17,072.96 and the lowest in the state was (get this) Western School Corporation in Howard County at $7,460.01 per student.” (Do your math on this amount.) How about that for another City of Firsts? Are the students getting the education they need? Sure they are, they are getting the best.

Families moving into our area, and also the locals, are wanting to move into the Western school district. Not because of the low per-student expenditures but because of the best teaching and environment.

My hat goes off to our Western School Board, principal and all the fine teachers. Why hasn’t the news people picked up on this report and helped to open the eyes of our governor and legislators, local and state. Maybe they could learn something from our local school and how to spend our tax dollars and still get the best results.

        

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