Charlie Gorney - Side II - Blog Post

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I have always been interested in local politics. Whether it is the city council or the county board or the school board, I find the interplay between different entities and officials and how they relate to the general public to be fascinating, and no less important to the lives of taxpayers.

State and national politics too often get caught up in generalized, ideological, and pedantic debates, and the real crux of the issues often gets lost. With local politics, it’s easier for the populace to see a more direct connection between its tax dollars and what actually gets done.

I am also of the opinion that most of our intellectual capital should be drawn to look at the public educational system. A system that is funded mostly by local property taxes may not be sustainable, especially when some districts rely too heavily on the state, which may not always be the most reliable source of funding.

The Galesburg School District 205 is perhaps one of the governmental bodies most closely tied to the lives of people who live here, most obviously by offspring, but also by taxes. I had followed the master facilities saga in the fall of last year and written some modest coverage. But I really wanted to look at some of the implications of the facilities plan and the manner in which it is to be funded.

And so, I have presented the plan, some of the arguments for and against it, and some of the rebuttals. I have presented the facilities themselves. And now, it is for you to decide if the plan is worth our while and worth our tax dollars.