Grove City is, for the most part, known as a conservative town. Republicans outnumber Democrats here by about 4 to 1; in a county that has a registered majority of Democrats, Grove City has historically been a bedrock of support for conservative candidates--especially for local offices.
Except when it comes to the Grove City Area School Board, it seems.
The GC school district's newly proposed budget includes a 2.01 mill tax increase, as well as a 3.1% raise for "non-union staff," including superintendents and principals. Dr. Robert Post (pictured, right) is the district superintendent, and his salary is already at $127,000 per year. His assistant, Tom Bell, makes $107,000. The various district principals currently make twice the area's median salary, and some make much more.
The proposed tax increase alone is preposterous, of course. Mercer County's unemployment rate, according to a recent Sharon Herald article, ranks third-worst in the state. Locally, the Grove City GE plant has laid off hundreds of workers who have yet to be recalled. Foreclosures of homes are at historic highs.
Yet the nine members of the Grove City Area School Board have yet to find their inner economic conservatism. Instead, we see another tax increase, another automatic raise for already-overpaid administrators, and not even a single outspoken advocate on the school board for freezing tax rates and salaries--let alone cutting them.
My libertarian soul grows weary of local school districts in Mercer County. Great lip service is often paid to social conservatism, including prayers before board meetings, but commitment to fiscal responsibility appears non-existent. Dr. Post went so far as to tell the Allied News recently that he would advocate not filling teacher vacancies as a first measure, should money run short. Shockingly, Post said nothing about cutting his own salary, choosing to threaten the well-being of students rather than take a pay cut himself. It makes little sense that the district is both short of funds, necessitating a tax increase, but yet somehow finds more money to dole out to the district's richest employees.
Our local school districts all need to take a look at reality. The reality right now is that there are still many Mercer County residents without jobs, elderly folks struggling to keep their homes, and working people who can't pay the taxes they already have. It is far time that Mercer County school boards, including Grove City, wake up and begin to balance their budgets, just like residents have to.
Jason Reeher is the Democratic Committeeman-Elect for Grove City's Ward 2.
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Good commentary! Did anyone notice in the picture that there is a bush growiing out of his head or could that be cash? Sorry to be irreverent but the $100K plus types always give themselves a raise but are quick to layoff cleaning staff to save a buck.
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