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Despite the misleading and false assertions made by
the Republican candidates in their mailers and
automated phone calls, Democrats have demonstrated
greater fiscal control than Republicans
over the past 13 years. Here are the facts:
●
Since 1994, Democrats have increased spending at a
slightly lower average annual rate than the
Republicans—7.9 percent for the Democrats, versus
8.3 percent under the Republicans.1
●
The Republican mailers highlight spending increases
over the past five years, even though the
current Democrats have only been in control for
four years. The difference is the Republicans
were responsible for 13 percentage points of the
total growth in spending – in just one year!
That amount substantially exceeded the subsequent
average Democratic spending increases of 7.7 percent
per year.2
o
Over the last four years under the current
Democratic board, school spending has increased 34
percent.3
o
Over the last five years – which includes
one year under Republican control – school
spending increased 47 percent.4
o
The difference – 13 percent spending growth – is the
Republicans’ responsibility.
Democrats are committed to keeping taxes low. A
promising trend is that the most recent tax increase
under a Democratic board (2007/8) was the lowest in
20 years: just 4.5 percent. A result of sound
fiscal planning, it included debt service towards
the new buildings and kept our diverse,
quality programming intact. Anticipated annual tax
increases over the next five years are around 5
percent, much lower than the historical average.
Act 1 budget caps will force everyone to keep taxes
low. So, then it comes down to whom do you trust to
deliver quality education: The Republican ticket, or
the highly qualified and informed Democratic
candidates?
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Sources:
1 LMSD budgets.
2 LMSD budgets. Average computed from
2003-04 through 2007-08.
3 LMSD budgets. Growth is calculated through
the 2007-08 school year, using the 2003-04
school year as the base.
4 LMSD budgets. Growth is calculated through
the 2007-08 school year, using the 2002-03
school year as the base.) |
