Help us combat spending in Geneva

At previous meetings of the school board in Geneva Unit District 304, a number of taxpaying citizens of the district made statements of great concern about the ever-increasing property taxes in Geneva, 68 percent of which go to supporting the expenditures made by the school's administration.

Pleas were made to stop excessive spending, especially now when our national economy is in severe recession. Some speakers explained areas in which they specifically believe excessive and unnecessary spending has occurred, and still continues now. We are not opposed to providing a quality education in a safe environment, the stated goals of the board. Yet, despite the public outrage over the board's failure to curtail their latest budget, during a recent meeting no board member, except Mark Grosso, suggested even one dollar of reduction. When he attempted to offer a motion toward some hold on one area of proposed spending he was quickly shut down by the board president, indicating the item was not yet an agenda item qualified for a motion.

It appears the board is content to continue to back still another increase in spending, even though total enrollment of students is basically the same as last year. What is it that this board doesn't understand about basic financial responsibilities, when that is supposed to be one of their major duties as elected officials?

The board will meet again in mid-September for still further discussion on this unrealistic budget, and it appears they will continue to approve it with still greater expenditures, and no genuine attempt at cost-cutting.

If more citizens would appear at these meetings and show the real concerns we have as taxpayers, perhaps we can convince the board that they are supposed to work for us, not against us. Write letters to editors, call your board members, make yourselves heard, because right now we are being ignored as a relatively small group of complainers who will soon go away.

Fred Cregier

Geneva