Rough ride ahead for state budget

McCook interests are working hard to see that the Work Ethic Camp receives funding in upcoming state budgets, and rightfully so. The facility is just now coming into its own, and deserves a chance to prove itself. We believe the WEC will pay for itself many times over in monetary savings compared to traditional incarceration, as well as benefits in the form of lives redirected into productive activities, and overall quality of life for Nebraska.

But, even with the survival of the Work Ethic Camp, effects of Nebraska's $761 million budget shortfall will make themselves painfully apparent in Southwest Nebraska as well as the rest of the state.

Earlier this week, "Reduction In Force" notifications went out to eight employees of the McCook Public Schools, including 2 1/2 full-time positions and six reductions in contracts. Schools are required to make such notification by April 15, even if the reductions turn out not to actually be needed.

The chances for that to happen this year do not look good, however.

The Legislature's Appropriations Committee, which returned funding to the WEC in its two-year budget proposal, also set state aid to K-12 education at $649 million, which is 12.6 million lower than what schools received this year, and $73.2 million less than what a formula determined they should get next year. To make up the difference, the bill would allow schools to increase property taxes from $1 to $1.04 per $100 of assessed value -- throwing more burden on property owners, of course.

Other highlights of the proposal would cut University of Nebraska and other higher education by 3 percent, and shift $22.1 million from road repair to help balance the budget. Even then, the Appropriation Committee's budget falls $360 million short of balancing, which must be made up by new taxes, if the Legislature makes no further cuts.

The reduction-in-force scene is being repeated all over the state -- Karen Kilgaren, spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Education Association expects the number to top 200 before it's over.

And this year is nothing new. Over the last four years, an average of 39 teachers have received such notices, not including 109 Seward Public Schools teachers who were "RIFFed" temporarily while the district bought time to work out its budget.

In the end, good teachers will be out of jobs, students will receive less attention because of larger classes, roads will be rougher and we'll all pay more for the reduced state services we do receive. Ultimately, we hope, Nebraska will emerge with a leaner, more efficient and effective system of government and public education. Until then, however, we're in for a rough ride.