Spears: Don’t shortchange education budget

Connie Spears (Contributed)

MADISON – Alabama legislators returned for a second special session on Sept. 8 to pass a state budget. Many education-minded residents are concerned about cuts to the Education Trust Fund.

Connie Spears posted her thoughts on Facebook on Sept. 8 but did not speak for Madison Board of Education, on which she has served since 2009. “I am expressing my opinion, not that of any organization,” Spears stated.

“For the first time in its existence, Madison City Schools is on its way to passing a negative budget? Next year, projected expenses are over $700,000 more than revenues,” Spears said.

Three years of proration, totaling the equivalent of 25 percent of one year’s budget for the district, have caused the board to defer maintenance and technology spending. “We must make those expenditures or else risk having unsafe buildings or falling so far behind in technology that it has adverse effects on our students,” Spears said.

“Imagine what your family’s finances would look like, if you had lost 25 percent of your yearly income over three years,” Spears said. “You’d still be playing catch up, wouldn’t you?”

“The amazing thing is that our legislators are claiming that there’s an excess in the Education Trust Fund (Education Budget),” Spears said. “That just boggles my mind! They want to take funding from education to bail out the General Fund (State Budget).”

“Some local legislators are the very legislators saying that taking money from education is a viable option,” Spears said. “One … Madison legislator is saying the only people he is hearing from are ones saying that he should stay strong and not raise taxes. This means that they will take money from education.”

Spears encourages residents to email legislators “about taking money from education. Sign your email and give them your address, so they know you’re in their district,” she said.

Madison legislators are Sen. Arthur Orr, arthur@arthurorr.com; Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, holtzclaw@knology.net; Rep. Mac McCutcheon, c.mac.mccutcheon@gmail.com; Rep. Mike Ball, mikeball@knology.net; and Rep. Micky Hammond, mickyhammon@gmail.com.

To identify the legislator that represents you, visit capwiz.com/state-al/home and complete the form.