Bismarck, North Dakota News

" I bet Norm is part of that good ol boys club. "

" to Norm~ I am hardly ignorant~simply stating the facts. Please do not patronize me with how "thrifty"school districts are and how"underfunded" they are. They just do not know how to balance their budget and every time I turn around they are asking for more money~ and not for the students so spare me your rhetoric. "

" Rather than making teachers help pay for their insurance perhaps there should be some trimming at the top of the tree on executive salaries in the district and the department heads....People you dont realize that people dont take teaching jobs and government jobs for their fabulous pay, they take it because the paid benefits help to make up the short comings of their salaries. Sure take the health care away, you are just going to have to pay alot more to get the positions filled. "

" BabyT, don't be so pessimistic. Get the word out on measures 1 and 2 and what they will do to the future of property taxes and state disbursements. EDUCATE people so they don't go to the voting booth blind. Don't assume they'll pass...it's not too late to educate people on these measures. "

" Hey Constitution: It would probably help if you checked your facts. I pay 300 dollars out of my own pocket for my health insurance each month, so please don't make those kinds of statements unless you have some facts. "

" The constitution calls for the government to provide an education, not a FREE education. If you are going to live in a lower population area, perhaps you should pay a fee for your children to go to school. I live in a large city and would not have a problem contributing to my kids' schools if the district spent money more wisely. Paul Johnson stated that he was going to build the technology center whether the voters wanted it or not and our dandy school board went along with it. Time to trim the budget - maybe teachers should start paying for part of their health insurance like everyone else. "

" To kk: Education is not half as expensive as ignorance. I challenge you to point out where individual school districts have been irresponsible in their fiduciary responsibilities. The state of ND has long underfunded its schools and is only recently (thanks to the litigant school districts and the leadership of the Gov. and Lt. Gov) trying to catch up. If the state would fund education at 70% and the feds would live up to their promise of fully funding special education, property taxes could drop dramatically. I sure hope that Measures 1 and 2 fail. Property taxes will soar and education will suffer in the state if either of these measures pass. "

" School funding was drastically increased to the schools who were personally represented on the Governors task force on education, these 7 or 8 schools receive approximately 3/4 of the state money given to schools. This was obviously done at the expense of the smaller schools in the state. I would hope with the input of millions of extra dollars 1 1/2 years ago these schools would still be in good financial condition. It should take longer than 2 school years to pi$$ away that amount of money. I do like the idea of local districts being responsible for anything other than core curriculum. I don't think the smaller districts should have to support the new steel drum band in Bismarck or the swimming pools in Fargo. "

" Wait until both measures 1 and 2 pass. The state government will all but stop giving any funding to schools, and expect any school district with less then 400 students or so to be on the chopping block. Property taxes? The current level will be a long and gone distance memory after the school districts have to raise taxes to make up for the lack of state money. "

" and do not use this as an excuse to start asking for more money from the taxpayers~ we cannot do it. You too will be affected by this so do not get too smug BUT do not think about asking for more money. We as citizens are tired of paying out and getting nothing. "