Ed cetera
Join the informed, opinionated journalists of The Times' editorial staff in lively discussions at our blog Ed Cetera.
Subscribe
February 12, 2008 4:55 PM
Is the Seattle School District suddenly awash in money?
Posted by Lynne Varner
The answer is no, but someone must think taxpayers are. The agenda for Wednesday evening's School Board meeting includes eye-popping requests for enormous sums for school construction.
Here's a glimpse: A $360,000 increase for architectural services for the new South Shore K-8 school, swelling that single contract to $2.5 million. Cost overruns of $10 million are predicted for building South Shore and remodeling Hamilton Middle School. The board agenda includes a request to transfer $2.7 million to keep the work going on Garfield High School, a project that will top $100 million when its completed. Oh, and the co-location of Denny Middle School with Sealth High School could use an extra $10 million.
Where will the money come from? Taxpayers. School bond measures approved by voters were the eqivalent of taking out a mortgage. Now the rising costs of building materials and more expensive trade union contracts is escalating the tab faster than a sub-prime loan. It is worth perusing the board agenda or attending the meeting to better understand why fixed cost in government is an oxymoron.
Digg
Newsvine
UPDATE - 12:02 AM
Recently listed
Popular searches
Jul 30, 08 - 03:22 PM
Should puppies be banned?
Jul 30, 08 - 01:01 AM
Planet Obama
Jul 29, 08 - 05:55 PM
Notes on Finland
Jul 28, 08 - 01:30 AM
Obama's press
Jul 27, 08 - 12:00 AM
Summertime and the fishing is perplexing
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Thunder and lightning again lighting up sky
- Datsun 210 sought in police shooting
- Voters expand same-sex rights
- Details emerge about Fort Hood suspect's history
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Recipe: Penne with Smoked Turkey Sausage
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Nancy Leson | An elegant offshoot of Seattle's Wild Ginger in Bellevue
- Voters expand same-sex rights
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Tim Lincecum charged with misdemeanor possession
- Do It in a Day | Spend a cozy, homey day in Edmonds
- Green River Valley: Anxiety ebbs over flooding potential
July
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Achenblog by Joel Achenbach
Andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com
Antagonistic Ink
blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail
Blatherwatch.blogs.com
Daily Democracy
Meganmcardle.theatlantic.com
Postman On Politics
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com
Volokh.com
www.antiwar.com
www.crosscut.com
www.economist.com
www.forbes.com
www.freepress.net
www.horsesass.org
www.journalism.org
www.mediaaccess.org
www.nationalreview.com
www.reason.com
www.seattle.indymedia.org
www.soundpolitics.com
www.techcentralstation.com
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.theamericancause.com
www.washblog.com