Educational funding for Colorado schools

Educational funding for Colorado schools is a subject that has been on everyone’s mind in the past few weeks. Legislative education committees held a lengthy hearing recently which mostly consisted of impassioned pleas to somehow stave off the projected cuts, with very few suggestions.
While it is, of course, a matter of concern, possible solutions seem to fall into two camps: (1) take the money away from someone else or (2) increase taxes. Neither of these are good options. Education is, for a lot of reasons, the largest share (42%) of the budget with Medicaid taking an almost equal portion. What other account should we take it away from? Raising taxes? People are losing jobs, losing homes, reducing circumstances, as business’ close weekly all across the state. Our economy is in shambles. Do we really think citizens can or will vote for increased taxes?
We must take a good hard look at our economy. There is no money buried in the capital basement, or in court houses around the state, there is very little money in our pockets and those mythical billionaires that some are searching for are few and far between.
What we must do is to once again produce wealth, grow the economy and thus produce tax income to enable us to meet our obligations responsibly. The Oil and Gas Commission rules have effectively shut down the Colorado economy, all the while declaring that they are in favor of “responsible resource development,” seemingly a secret code for “over my dead body!” As for the “green energy economy” so frequently mentioned? Would someone please supply a list of those jobs? A few people assembling windmills and solar panels hardly qualify, and ironically, they are losing those jobs as subsidies cease. The Stimulus has come and gone leaving only a few fancy signs and having further convinced some members of the public that relying on the government largess is the way to go..
We need to begin facing these issues dead on. We can’t have it both ways. Colorado knows how to develop energy resources wisely. One only has to look at our history of continuing advances to know that. Yet every proposal, every permit is met with filings of concern, layers of bureauracy, endless delays. People have lost jobs, lost their livelihoods, all the while listening to the green energy rhetoric. Western Colorado’s unemployment rate is double that of the national rate.
How long are we willing to subject Coloradoans to a future of low paying jobs, continued reductions in standards of living , and a choice of high cost energy or none at all? Unfortunately when people are willing to congratulate each other on every energy project they manage to delay or put a halt to, they must also recognize the part they play in decreased opportunities for Colorado children. Our school children do deserve better. It’s time to stop pretending we can have it both ways.

Marcia Neal – Grand Junction, Colo.