WBCSD is mismanaged

As a retired plant manager I know that I should not budget to spend more than revenue is projected to cover. Indeed, this principle is followed by our county government, which by law restricts our commissioners from budgeting to spend more than annual projected revenue.

Why is this sound fiscal principle lost on our school district? Last school year (2017-2018) our district budgeted to spend $854,944 more than planned revenue for the year. They actually ended the school year spending $989,596 in excess of revenue! Remember, all this happened even though the student population dropped from the previous year from 1,117 to 1,057 (5.4%).

The reason our school district can get away with this is that over the past few years they have managed to build a multimillion-dollar reserve account with their levy income and continue to use it to spend, spend and spend some more. This type of budgeting has gone on for years, unrestricted and without proper oversight from our school board of trustees.

Interwoven all throughout the school district audited annual financial reports is evidence of either complete ignorance of, or total contempt for sound financial management of taxpayers’ money and it must stop.

Vote no on the May 21 West Bonner County School District $3 million levy.

Glenn Rohrer

Priest River