Education Funding Deserves Scrutiny
Editor:
On the evening of April 18, Paul Revere was instructed by Dr. Warren to ride to Lexington Massachusetts, to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching to arrest them. He had the local “sons of liberty” place two lanterns in the bell-tower of Christ Church in Boston, indicating the troops would travel by sea, to Cambridge. Paul Revere was rowed across the Charles River to Charlestown than borrowed a horse from his friend Deacon John Larkin and rode to Lexington, alarming each house on the way and arriving about midnight.
After delivering his warning to Adams and Hancock he was joined by William Dawes, who had been sent on the same errant by a different route. On their own, both men decided to ride to Concord, Mass. where weapons and supplies were hidden to warn that the British were coming. Soon they were joined by a third rider, Sam Prescott. All three were arrested by a British Patrol and held for some time. Revere was released without a horse to return to Lexington. Who might warn us now?
The Commissioners of Worcester County recently announced a $22 million shortfall between revenues and requested expenditures. If any portion of this amount is funded, it will require increased taxes up to an additional 6.7 cents above the current 77 cents, a rate that was increased in recent years from 70 cents. Ocean City has raised the property tax rate four times in five years. The general trend of increasing tax rates along with other government expenses is taking a toll on the county’s economy. These increased costs contribute to the economy’s inability to provide meaningful jobs for its graduating students, cause ongoing declines in property values and sap the local economy of vibrancy.
Ironically, the largest consumer of the public’s taxes is the public education system. It is estimated to cost between $97,445,000 and $103,099,000 this year with the county providing about $80 million, about half of its approved budget. This huge expense is unsustainable, therefore deserves more scrutiny now.
Today, we spend $15,812 per pupil, per year. In 1970, (45 years ago), this county spent approximately $867 per pupil, per year and when we add 45 years of inflation we get about $5,250 per year in today’s dollars. Well $15,812 is more than three times larger than $5,250, why? Forty-five years ago, public education ranked number one in the world in every measure. Today, despite the bloated expense, we have sunk to 28 out of 32 industrialized countries on the International PIAA test, which is primarily focused on math. Although we are spending a lot more, the kids are ill prepared. Why? And why is this costly decline in educational performance not being addressed politically?
The gifted and the mentally challenged are often held up by the education lobby as a shiny example of the success of today’s public school system. Yet there can be little argument that the majority of kids, the mainstream, are largely left behind. Despite three times the costs, why aren’t many students nearly as well prepared as their predecessors 45 years ago? Clearly it is not only the economy that is damaged to meet the expense of education.
The commissioners must take a fresh look through the rubric of consequences and secondary effects, not merely considering education separately. If funding education means reducing economic vitality through hideously higher expenses, graduating less prepared mainstream students and reducing economic vibrancy, lowering values and jobs which reduce future tax revenue, we must find a better way. Examining the 1970 model of academic superiority at a lower after inflation cost would be productive.
The Ocean City Council also bases its decisions on immediate problem resolution. This often results in misallocation as money flows disproportionately to those with advocates. Secondary effects are seldom considered. Other needed uses that possibly aren’t union represented are often ignored, such as roads, sewers and storm drains.
Recently the Ocean City Council voted in over a $400,000 increase per year in future expense for the police, without identifying revenue to pay the promise, this is typical.
Who among the commissioners or council will be our Paul Revere? Tomorrow is the 240th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, who will warn us?
Tony Christ
Support Acknowledged
Editor:
To Ocean City and the surrounding communities on behalf of the Rimel family and Camp Possibilities, we would like to thank you for the tremendous support of Spaghetti For Possibilities.
The meal was a huge success but could not been without the support of many. We would specifically like to thank our kitchen crew led by Joe Machovec and Joey Moyer. Thank you to The Family Butcher, Brian Otto from Carrabba’s Italian Grill, A Bagel And…, Adolfo’s Italian Restaurant and Good Earth Market for providing the food for the evening.
The dinner was served by volunteers from Stephen Decatur Middle School Builders Club and Stephen Decatur High School Students from Connections, Leo Club, ninth grade government class and ROTC. These students were so great to work with and we could not have completed the event without them. They proved that they are “Decatur Strong” even off campus.
There were over 100 businesses and individuals that supported our auction with gift certificates and donations that were collected by Eric Rimel. The Ticket Drop Auction was led by Margaret Ulle.
We would like to especially thank St. Peter’s Lutheran Church for its support and use of the community life center and Master of Ceremonies Rob “DJ Wax” Chandler for keeping the music flowing. There are many others that helped with Advertising and organizing and I cannot thank every one enough for their support.
Our family is a true believer that when everyone pitches in big and great things happen. On March 21, 2015, that is exactly what happened. We hosted over 200 people and together with all of our volunteers we raised over $9,500 for Camp Possibilities. This will benefit children with Type 1 diabetes giving them a week of summer camp and they will have the time of their lives.
We are very blessed to live in such a caring community and thank you for your support of Camp Possibilities.
Katie Rimel
Donors Thanked
Editor:
The 5th Annual St. Joseph’s Day Italian Festival on March 21, sponsored by the Ocean City Lodge of the Sons of Italy and St. Luke’s/St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, was another big success. We had over 1,000 attendees come through to enjoy our home cooked Italian meals and baked goods. They sat and listened to music provided by The Mario Monaldi Band from Baltimore (a favorite of Italian festivals throughout the Mid-Atlantic); bought Italian specialty foods and merchandise; participated in our large Silent and Chinese auctions; played some games of chance; and watched their children enjoy making Easter crafts.
All in all it was a fun day and a very successful one for our charity and scholarship funds. We have many individuals and local merchants to thank for their generosity in sponsoring our entertainment, auctions and taking ads in our program. These are the establishments that are the backbone of our community and we appreciate their support. It is a pleasure to acknowledge them and encourage your readers to support them.
Our benefactors in Ocean City include A Perfect Face, Bayside Skillet, Buddhas & Beads, Carraba’s Italian Grill, Casino at Ocean Downs, Century 21 New Horizon, Crazy Ladyz, Creative Care Day Spa , Dunes Manor Hotel Victorian Restaurant, Fager’s Island Restaurant, Fox Sun & Surf Movies, Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille, Harford General Insurance Agency, Hatland, Hooked Restaurant, Jules Fine Dining, Knights of Columbus Council, Assembly & Ladies Auxiliary, Ky West Restaurant, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc, Deborah Stanley Maphis, CPA. Maxim Nails & Spa, Mione’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, Ocean City Florist, Olde Tyme Barber Shop, Old Pro Golf, Peninsula Rehab & Sports Medicine, R J Lock & Security, Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen, St. Luke’s Gift Shop, Sunset Grille, Three Brother’s Italian Restaurant, Touch of Italy Trattoria, Trattoria Lombardi’s, West-O Bottle Shop and Bar, Wockenfuss Candies and Gail Zeigler.
Our benefactors in West Ocean City included Hooter’s Restaurant, Tribuno Construction & Renovation, Waterman’s Seafood Company, Inc and West O Bottle Shop.
Our benefactors in Berlin and Ocean Pines include Abi’s Diner, A Bagel and….Inc, A Little Bit Sheepish, Burley Oak Brewing Co., Deer Run Golf Club, DeNovo’s Trattoria, Food Lion, Marty’s Beauty Salon, Ocean Pines Plaza Barber Shop, Rayne’s Reef, Robin Walter Salon & Day Spa, Ta Da, Taylor’s Neighborhood Restaurant, Treasure Chest, Victorian Charm, Whisker’s Bar & Grill and World of Toys
Each one of these merchants played a part in our festival’s success through their sponsorships, gifts, donations and program ads. We sincerely thank them all and we hope that the 2015 season will be their best ever.
And a very special thanks to all of you who came and enjoyed the afternoon with us. We had fun putting it all together. We hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did. See you next March.
Sal Castorina
(The writer is the president of the Ocean City Lodge of the Sons of Italy.)