Fiscal issues should be factor in endorsements

I've been following the Daily Herald's local endorsements and I'm extremely disappointed by the apparent lack of concern about finances and spending. A perfect example is the Herald's endorsements for High School District 214.

District 214 has, for years, been increasing property taxes as much as possible without needing a referendum, in excess of what they need. The result was a huge buildup of reserves. The reserves grew so large that they had to be decreased.

The board's solution was a series of capital "improvements." The required hearings were dedicated to creating a spending list and discussion of returning the excess funds to the taxpayers was a forbidden topic.

I believe some of the projects were extravagant and returning the funds was a better use of the money. The Daily Herald should have taken fiscal performance into account when giving their endorsements.

Jim Scanlan

Wheeling