Government Cannibalism

Last week Gulf District School officials were blindsided, to say the least, by a proposal put on the table during a meeting of their peers in Bay County.

During a budget workshop it was discussed by Bay District School officials that maybe they would stop paying for students in Mexico Beach, around 80, to attend Gulf County schools.

In this difficult budget year for all branches of government, such a proposal should give taxpayers pause.

This has little to do with the children.

They have grown up in Gulf County schools - nobody can remember when Mexico Beach students didn't come over to Bay County - and all their friends are there. If they petition both superintendents, they are almost certainly going to be allowed to remain in Gulf County.

The nearest elementary school in Bay County might be a shorter distance - emphasis on might - but middle and high schools would be further drives, adding to travel times for students and transportation costs.

What this proposal was about was saving $120,000 in transportation and food service dollars paid to Gulf County out of a Bay County school budget that runs in the tens of millions.

And putting those costs on a district already dealing with declining enrollment, a label as one of just seven property-rich districts in the state - though county government is seen as "fiscally-restrained" - and thus getting fiscally hammered by state lawmakers right now during the regular session.

A district that is wrestling with the same rise in gas and food prices as Bay County, but with far fewer resources.

It's like those nature shows where creatures eat their young.

And if governments will do that to one another when the money gets tight, heaven knows what is in store for taxpayers.

Taxpayers should have their alert levels dialed to red as local budgets begin to be crafted.