THE PUBLIC INTEREST

A top concern listed by the public during Vision Planning town hall meetings and surveys last year was learning about school finances: where the money comes from, how it is spent and who makes the decisions. But when the Cape Girardeau Board of Education recently asked the public for questions on the district's budget, the response was less than overwhelming.

Just one person submitted a written question to the board, and that was about criteria for choosing an insurance carrier.

The lack of concern could well be in direct response to a growing comfort level with the administration and school board. A new superintendent, Dr. Dan Tallent, has taken the helm since the Vision Planning meetings were held. The controversy and dissent of the past year have dissipated. The school district is back on an even keel.

The board's attempt to solicit public comment signals an openness that wasn't in place just a year or two ago. The school board and administration are really making an effort to get the public involved.

But taxpayers also have a bad habit of exhibiting complacency about government spending until it hits their pocketbook. It usually takes a tax increase on the table or drastic cuts in the budget to stir strong public sentiments.

District taxpayers and school patrons would be well served to learn more about school finances now -- when there is no crisis at hand. The school board and administrators are striving for a balanced budget next year due to the fact that this year's budget will dip heavily into reserves. Some of that was planned. The district also overbudgeted by about $550,000 for the 1995-96 school year. The estimated revenue for the 1995-96 year is $22.1 million. Projected revenues are only $21.8 million.

Unless legislation is approved this session, the district also stands to lose about $300,000 in railroad and utility taxes next year. A Senate Bill 380 provision that kicks in next year would transfer those tax receipts from the local level to the state.

A deficit this year coupled with stagnant state dollars means that the district will have to examine its spending closely as it develops next year's budget. If the goal is a balanced budget, cuts will have to be made to make ends meet. The vast majority of the district finances --more than 70 percent -- are tied to teacher salaries and benefits.

Now is the time for people to learn more about school finances -- before a sink-or-swim tax is proposed or favorite programs are trimmed. School finances are complicated, but there is plenty of time for the public to get educated before the next budget is approved this summer.