“We need to delineate between what we want and what we need. This is a wish list and I don’t think Christmas is coming early this year.”
Randy Copeland, member of the Orange County School Board, as quoted in the April 14 News of Orange County (no link available to the story).
According to the story, Copeland was responding to what he believes is an excessive funding proposal by the board for FY 2004-2005. The board will hold a hearing tonight to present for public input the budget request Copeland opposes, as well as an alternative request that is $265,000 lower. Once the school board decides which proposal to adopt, it will be submitted to the Orange County Board of Commissioners for funding. Ultimately, of course, it’s Orange County taxpayers who must foot the bill — even if it consists of the wants (not needs) of people who don’t think an extra $265,000 is any big deal.
