Let's look at the facts. Spending per student over the last five years has increased over 20 percent while the student population has increased just three percent.

State spending adjusted for inflation is up eight percent in five years and federal spending is up six percent. The county contribution to the school system is over $21 million. $4.7 million annually of that total for new schools. In addition the schools will receive $8.2 million over the next ten years from the Public School Building fund and lottery funding of $1.5 million per year.

Maybe Mr. Winslow can answer why the teachers receive a county supplement of just $2,700 while a large percentage of the county supplement goes to administrators.

Superintendent receives over $50,000, and the assistant administrators receive over $30,000 each.

What the citizens of Wilson need to be asking Mr. Winslow is what are we getting for our money. SAT scores that are below the state average and pitifully below the national average. In fact, scores that have not made any significant improvement in the past eight years. One of the highest dropout rates in the state. We are graduating students that can't make change at McDonald's. Some return for our investment.

One thing I agree with Mr. Winslow, that there is a critical problem, but money is not the answer. Isn't amazing how when begging for more money bureaucrats downplay the impact to your pocketbook. A quarter cent tax increase is only $1.50 cents on a $600 purchase.

The fact is the 25 cents is cumulative, added to 6.75 cents makes the tax rate one of the highest in the Southeast and is $7 on a $100 purchase. Maybe $7 is not a lot of money to Mr. Winslow but it is certainly a lot of money to many of the citizens of Wilson County who are struggling to make ends meet during some very difficult economic times.

The last thing the citizens of Wilson need is additional financial burden in the form of taxes.

Country Club Drive