Another Budget Year and Charter Schools Are Still Able to Keep Their Leftover Transportation Funds

During the Legislative Session budget debate, charter school transportation leftover funds were brought up once again. I just do not understand how we keep doing this year after year, allowing charter schools to keep any leftover transportation funds that they have remaining at the end of the budget cycle. Rep. Kowalko has been fighting this fight for as long as I have been in Dover. Each year in the budget’s epilogue there is language that was added years ago that allows charter schools to keep any leftover funds that they do not spend on bus services for their students. Every year, Rep. Kowalko files an amendment to the budget and every year he pleads with his colleagues on both sides to support his amendment and every year it does not pass. Each year, more and more Democrats support his amendment but no Republicans ever vote yes. Republicans are constantly stating they want the state to be fiscally responsible and I do agree with that. I am not sure how we are being fiscally responsible by allowing this to continue year after year. I just do not understand how we raise people’s taxes and cut education funding and yet the state is not there with their hand out asking for our hard earned money back – it just does not make sense to me, the charter schools did not spend the money so it should be returned to the State.

June 30, 2016, Rep Kowalko’s amendment failed 8 yes and 31 no. This year the vote for Rep. Kowalko’s amendment was 16 yes, 21 no and 4 not voting – I guess someone could say he is making progress.

Just wondering how others feel about this; should charter schools return their leftover transportation funds as we continue to cut public education funding and raise taxes?

I just want to say, Rep. Kowalko goes to Dover and fights for his constituents and Delawareans every day – I wish more elected people would fight like he does, he never gives up. I am so glad he is down there with me, he has guts – more than I can say for others who are down there.

 

Millville Fire Company’s Audit was released and then changed, why?

On May 10, 2016, Tom Wagner signed off and released the Millville Fire Company Audit and then on June 20, 2016, Tom Wagner revised and reposted the Millville Fire Company Audit. On June 23, 2016, resolution was introduced, by Rep. Danny Short, HCR 95 which passed the House on June 23, 2016. (It seems a bit odd to me that Tom Wagner changes the audit and then this resolution was introduced, all within three days of one another.) This resolution established a task force – below is a synopsis of the resolution.

Many of the Delaware Volunteer Fire Companies are for all intents and purposes self-policed as it pertains to the management of their company funds. As highlighted by the recent reports of embezzlement, the current system is vulnerable. This House Concurrent Resolution establishes a task force to examine what procedures are in place today, and to make recommendations for changes and reforms aimed at reducing the risk of embezzlement by persons in charge of these funds

Tom Wagner is a member of the Volunteer Fire Departments Financial Management Review Task Force. I do not disagree with the forming of the task force, what my issue is – here is another report that Tom Wagner has changed. Yesterday, I wrote about a petty cash investigation/audit report that had been started and a draft report was completed – Tom Wagner decided not to release the report. Now, we have the Millville Fire Company’s Audit being changed.

Below was taken from the website of the Auditor’s Office:

The Auditor of Accounts, an elected office, serves as the State of Delaware’s fiscal watchdog. As the independent auditor, the Office of Auditor of Accounts (AOA) is charged with responsibility for the State’s annual financial and federal single audits.

Who is the watchdog over the Auditor’s Office? I have tried going to Tom Wagner for answers but I just keep getting the run around.