Stan Geiger

Vote No

Tomorrow, a vote will be held. Tulsa Public Schools is going for a state record $354 million in borrowed money. Vote no across-the-board.

I cannot imagine, in my wildest dreams, that TPS has 354 million dollar’s worth of dire needs. I guess that’s as good a spot as any to start. The world is falling apart around us. We should not borrow money for schools just because. And it seems that is what is being marketed here. The district is going for the money just because it thinks it can get it.

I’ve been amazed at the TV ads. They promote no specific needs. They show people shooting lip, they might show video of cute little kids, but they cite no specific needs. The biggest selling point seems to be that of a yes vote not raising your taxes. Well, hell, that’s a good reason to hand a school district $354 million.

The ads fail to mention a no vote will reduce your property tax burden. The ads fail to mention a redirection of this public money might lengthen your lifespan, not to mention the lifespan of your child. I mean what’s more important, a renovated library at your child’s school or a bridge your child can pass over or under without dying?

Putting that stuff aside, the argument that a yes vote won’t raise your taxes is a lie. Maintaining the status quo relative to tax rates, do you expect your property tax liability to be the same in five years that it is today? If so, you haven’t been paying attention.

I recall a TPS bond issue from, oh, fifteen years ago, give or take. It was a big deal. I guess it was a big deal because it was the first time a TPS bond issue moved into the 9-figure range. The district was asking for $100 million. The superintendent humped it; Mayor Susan Savage humped it; various civic leaders humped it; the Tulsa World, of course, humped it. The measure passed, and there was a great celebration.

The measure on the ballot tomorrow is 3.5 times---or 250 percent---larger than the one passed some 15 years ago. School bond issues get bigger all the time. If approving them doesn’t raise your taxes, from where does the money come?

If you need more, I’ll give you more. Let’s look at some recent local reports that have come out of public education.

Oklahoma City Public Schools hired a new super not too long ago. He lasted, maybe, a year. He was using the district like it was his own personal piggy bank. He was putting in reimbursement requisitions for every dollar he spent---up to and including his booze purchases. It’s pretty easy to get rich when you’re getting overpaid for your job and then you don’t have to pay for anything.

Sequoyah Public Schools had a superintendent that was convicted for embezzling a million bucks over a 10-year span of time.

The big story now is Skiatook Public Schools. Current reports say that district squandered half a million bucks on janitorial supplies.

The official word from the district is standard. “Mistakes were made,” they say. Nobody noticed. That’s a lame excuse. But it’s good enough to roll some heads. I mean if Skiatook schools employs people that are too stupid to notice $529 is too much to pay for 3 mop heads, then the district employs people that are too stupid to hold jobs.

What any person with any sense knows is there were no “mistakes.” It was a deal-deal. The people in charge of the money were getting kicks.

The state auditor says there are currently half a dozen school districts under the microscope for various reasons. Oklahoma has over 500 public school districts. If the auditor’s office had greater resources, I figure they would all be under investigation.

If there is money to steal, schools are overfunded. Don’t give TPS $354 million just because.

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