Forcing Districts to Lie

From the San Pedro Valley News-Sun:

David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District, said the current conflict between Arizona Gov. Janet Brewer and the legislature is nothing more than "gamesmanship" that is preventing others from moving forward with a plan for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

[...]

Woodall said with a Republican governor and a Republican majority in the house and senate, he figured it would be a breeze and a budget would go through without a problem.

[...]

The new fiscal year begins on July 1. At the latest, by law, Woodall said school districts must approve a budget for the upcoming year by July 15. Before the document is approved, they are also required, by law, to propose a tentative budget, and hold public hearings to get residents' input.

Woodall said the first hearing will likely be held this week on Thursday, where he will probably introduce a budget with "unrealistic numbers." By law, after being introduced, the final tally in the budget can be decreased, but cannot increase.

Woodall said he will likely propose a high, unrealistic number, that will be cut down once the state stops fighting and gives school districts actual figures to work with.

School districts across the state are likely doing the same thing-- ginning up high, unrealistic budget numbers so they will not be in violation of numerous state laws. Fallout from the legislator's game of chicken with the governor is not only financially handicapping schools, it is also greatly impacting a school district's ability to plan effectively for the upcoming school year and forcing local governing boards to present false budgets to the communities which elected them.

Effectively, forcing them to lie.