If serving as a school board member was easy, anyone could do it. Unfortunately, these important taxing bodies are rarely diligent in their responsibilities as financial managers.

School board members negotiate union salaries of education employees, approve the superintendent's budget and set the tax levy on property with little attention to controlling operating costs.

Taxpayers of St. Clair County pay the one of the highest tax levies in the state. Schools collected more than $199 million of the $330 million total county property tax in 2011. This heavy tax burden is destroying job opportunities for our graduates as employers leave Illinois for tax relief.

Elected officials' extravagance has paralyzed our economy with debt while taxing bodies take 50 percent of our total income. The progressive tax-and-spend crowd preaches that society cannot exist half slave and half free, so they attempt to enslave the other half. Our children are traveling the road to serfdom unless government spending and debt are significantly reduced.

O'Fallon District 90 is a prime example of fiscal irresponsibility. This school board, led by President John Coers, allowed Superintendent Todd Koehl to operate the district in deficit for many years before Illinois reduced funding to school districts. The administration has repeatedly rejected meaningful economies while promoting a "yes" vote on April 9 to increase property taxes. Coers is also on the ballot.

Vote "no" to a tax increase April 9 and deny spendthrift Coers another term.

Ron Davinroy

O'Fallon