Dear Editor:
(In response to: ‘District under budget with school bond projects moving forward,? The Citizen, Nov. 15, page 1)
‘We have to spend the money one way or the other.? Unbelievable. Unconscionable. Our nation is in a serious recession. Michigan is at or near the top in unemployment, foreclosures, and just about any other economic measurement you could fathom. We are at the brink of what could be a massive dislocation of Michigan workers. Brandon Schools has seen enrollment falling, with little reason to expect an increase any time soon. At a time when most businesses and families are curtailing expenses, whether by necessity or simple prudence, Brandon Schools is tripping over themselves to spend some $28 million in remaining bond funds approved in 2006. Like the proverbial kid in the candy shop who has a dollar to spend, they simply must spend every cent.
As shocking as this may seem, the district could use the surplus toward retirement of the debt, effectively giving us the ‘change? on our purchase. Of course, this would require the board and the administration to acknowledge that it is our money (in fact, our debt) they are spending. I guess I won’t hold my breath.
Alex Martin
Ortonville