No more bond programs

To the Editor:

Why is it so many Rockwood residents think bond issues are free?

The only difference between a tax increase and a bond issue is timing. A tax is pay now and a bond issue repayment plus interest is pay later.

There is no such thing as “free money.”

With the economy and employment problems we currently are having, a freeze should be considered on non-emergency items or projects.

New computers at this time could be deferred because the new ones will be obsolete in two years.

I’m sure there are many items our residents would like to have, but due to money shortages and economy uncertainty they hold off spending at this time.

It’s ridiculous that the school district should require almost one month of a person’s Social Security.

Stop the excessive school board spending.

Jim Yettke

Ballwin

To the Editor:

Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions has announced its concern over the Rockwood Board of Education voting to put yet another ballot issue on the April 2^nd ballot.

As an advocate group for taxpayers, parents, employees and students of the Rockwood School district, RS for RS feels the Board and district officials need to work on rebuilding the community’s trust and credibility, which was lost over the recent disclosure of questionable and unethical business practices involving bond construction, vendor and consultant contracts and the lack of transparency.

It is premature for district officials to believe they can garner nearly 60 percent of the voters support this April when they’ve yet to acknowledge or apologize to the district stakeholders for what has been characterized as a complete lack of strong, decisive leadership in the area of fiscal and operational business practices.

In addition, the community is still awaiting the result of a comprehensive compliance audit report from the Office of State Auditor, Tom Schweich.

The audit fieldwork began in July 2012 and wrapped up on Jan. 3, with a meeting with district officials to explain the transition in their process from onsite fieldwork to review and report preparation. The auditors did not provide a definitive date for report release, nor any written report.

The bond issue has been labeled Prop. S, “with the S standing for students and security” according to Board President Janet Strate.

While RS for RS believes the safety and security of the students should always be first and foremost, it should not be contingent on the passage or failure of a vote at the ballot box; especially with the strained relationship between the district and their stakeholders.

The taxpayers have been good to the district for years and now have discovered there have been some questionable business practices all along. It is time to clean up and straighten up the district, rectify the relationship with the community, take the consequences and only then can we move on.

It was recently disclosed that the district has a surplus of $16 million in a designated fund balance. RS for RS believes a fair solution would be for the Board to designate these funds to take care of the most critical issues at this time.

According to Rockwood Policy 3117, the Board of Education mandates that operating fund balances at the end of the fiscal year should equal 18 percent of the budgeted operating expenditures.

Rockwood Stakeholders

for Real Solutions

Eureka