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Show ; District needs funds to provide proper education ' is an attitude about : .overnment that has become I I Liar in the last five years that l to be getting out of hand. 1 jjjj, is the "tighten your belt" at- 1 '"Jj.js great for a time to trim 1 diet, get our government ,1(igUre" back into shape. However His dieting can go too far, weakening our government, our schools, and even the economy. This attitude can even become akin to mnnrexia. The situation of Alpine School District is a good example of this. Five years ago the district had a fairly trim budget by comparison with others. Then the fat cutting started. At first this streamlined the program and caused some needed changes. But, as Alpine now has become the least funded district in the leat funded state in the nation, it seems hard to believe that crying "tighten your belt" is going to solve any problems. I think the dieting fad has gone too far - here anyway. (The federal government still has a lot to cut out.) The voted leeway election that is coming up would be one way patrons could give some much needed financial nutrients to a district that has already gone beyond the point of lean and trim. We need to think about our state too. We already have one of the most efficient state governments in the nation. Let's be careful about pushing the diet fad too far. Just because Washington needs to cut spending doesn't necessarily mean this would be wise for us, here in Utah, now. Let's make sure we give our government entities a balanced diet, of course avoiding fats, and vote this fall for legislators who aren't anorexic. And, since a well supported and respected school district helps to improve property values, let's vote . yes in that Leeway election. - David N. Cox |