In regard to the article “ACLU says Cape’s FOIA fees are high,” what are the districts hiding? Exaggerated time and cost are simply part of a stonewalling that occurs when the truth seems to be coming out. If the same info was asked and answered last year for free, how come the enormous change this year?
Possible answers:
• Districts are hiding what they do/did
• Districts found another way to make money
• Districts believe they should not be questioned because they’re the experts
• Districts feel the public will become aware of the shortcomings and vote no at the next referendum for a swimming pool.
“Current hourly pay grade of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the service.” I assume a mid-level bookkeeper did the response last year and will do it this year. At Cape, he/she earns $72.38 per hour. Multiple that by 2,080 hours in a work year, and that equals $150,550.40 per year!
The caliber of the employee can be judged by the estimate of the time required to complete the task – 47.5 hours. Several districts estimated fees less than $400 and no more than eight hours of labor to respond to the request. It appears that remedial bookkeeping should be in store for the employee making $150,550.40 per year to bean count.
Which brings up an observation. Referendums to build a new school/expanding or altering school buildings – pass. Referendums for swimming pools, bus depots, district office changes – fail.
I don’t remember the referendum to raise the salary of bookkeepers to $150,000.
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