To the Editor:

The reason for levy Issue 49 was that the board of education continually put a priority on employee salary and benefits ahead of educating local children, causing a reported $14 million budget deficit.

During the levy campaign, the board acknowledged it had not had a levy increase in five years, but failed to remind voters that every single year, they still provided salary increases for all employees, plus increases for two additional years. Is there any doubt who caused this deficit?

The sole purpose of the school district is to educate our children. However, the board made it clear to voters that if cuts were required, they would affect our children's education and not employees' salary or benefits. If you didn't already know, the proceeds from levy Issue 49 are again going to cover the escalating cost of salary and benefits.

There is absolutely no doubt that the board of education and union representatives knowingly caused the district's financial crisis, and each "yes" vote provided them additional money to continue their gluttonous spending. Please don't be mistaken; the board of education has already admitted to needing additional levies to cover even more forecasted deficit spending for salary and benefits.

As a community, we must start working with the board of education and the unions on the district's financial sustainability, as these spending habits cannot continue.

Ed Parsons