|
Two bills designed to give the public more access to how schools spend their money have been introduced in the House, but so far, the measures have little local support.
Originally introduced in the Senate, the bills would allow the public to better track money being spent on education.
They have resurfaced, this time in the House.
House Bill 338 and House Bill 337, sponsored by Rep. Greg Lavelle, R-Wilmington, were released from the House Education Committee April 23.
H.B. 338 calls for a searchable website for school district and charter school contracts while H.B. 337 requires each school district and charter school to post its checking account activity, other than payroll checks, online. It also requires pay and benefits to be posted by job title at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Last year, five measures that would put Department of Education fiscal records online were filed in the Senate. All five were reintroduced earlier this year, but three of them have been stalled in the Senate Finance Committee since Jan. 9. One bill also requires the Delaware Economic Development Office’s Strategic Fund to be posted online.
Rep. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, who says he supports open government, also is concerned about the cost to taxpayers of these measures. “My only concern is that it’s going to cost,” said Booth. “And, there was going to be minimal impact in regard to the local school districts.”
He said the cost for putting educational expenses and payouts online might be reduced if lawmakers wait.
“Here’s the interesting thing in talking to the sponsor. The Delaware Education Department is getting ready to change over the computer system to a new system. If they incorporate this program, it gets in at no cost. But it does give the public more confidence in their school systems,” he said.
Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, opposes the measures, calling them too costly and unnecessary. He added that Republicans might be too much in a hurry. “I’m opposed because they’re rushing these things through,” he said. “There’s been no fiscal note attached to them. We agreed they’d go to the Appropriations Committee, but they just showed up on the agenda,” he said. “I’m not in favor of every school district putting this online. It’s a huge expense, which costs time and money,” he said. He said he does not anticipate the bills being up for a vote for a couple weeks.
Contact Kevin Spence at k.spence@capegazette.com
|
