The Chapel Hill News reports that taxpayers will be stuck with a $40,000 bill for unpaid cafeteria school lunches that Chapel Hill/Carrboro system parents refuse to pay for after their kids ate lunch. What’s more, the story says the kids don’t even qualify for the free or reduced lunch plan, or parents haven’t bothered to apply to the program. The school board has decided to simply write off the debt, meaning the delinquent parents are off the hook and taxpayers will pay. Interesting, however, that $600 owed by staff WILL be collected, the story says.

Assistant Superintendent Todd Lofrese said some families owe the district more than $600. Balances are carried over year to year.

But using collection agencies to pursue the delinquent parents struck some board members as setting up an antagonistic relationship between families and schools.

On the other hand, some board members argued that it was unfair to let people off the hook and have taxpayers pick up the tab. Parents who qualify can apply for free or reduced lunch programs managed by state and federal government.

 

When it comes to the free and reduced lunch program itself, Carolina Journal’s David Bass has been reporting for several years on fraud and potential fraud in the system. You’ll find the series here.