Big Sky Cairn

It has been a while since I have read something in the Gazette I agree with, but they pretty much hit it right on with the MHESAC/SAF question.

I written my thoughts before on what I think should happen with the student loan markets. But, transparency in government agencies is rarely a bad idea. It should be noted that the Montana Guaranteed Student Loan Program has been audited by the State Legislature each of the last two years according to the quick google search I put in (reports here and here). However, those reports only tangently mention MHESAC and SAF.

My one problem with the reporting this spring has been a lack of mention that the Montana student loan industry received a clean audit from the AG last fall. I mention this because I get the impression that Baucus, Tester and Schweitzer are accusing MHESAC/SAF of acting in an unethical, or unprofessional way. The distinction should be made that this is audit is a question of competence and judgment, not corruption. Given what came out of New York last year, I would think it important to make sure those are not the sort of allegations being made here.

All that said lets shine the light on these groups. At the very least it should be concerning that the same folks setting tuition rates are also in charge of the groups processing student loans.

Undeterred by allegations of impropriety in January, the Billings Gazette went full steam ahead today pushing for an $817,000 elementary mill.

Today you have stories on;

• The decrepit elementary budget situation
• The “concerns” of one voter who feels squeezed by inflation already, but he is of course a good citizen and taking a hit on his personal finances to provide for the kids.
• An editorial by the Gazette board touting the good work of the schools’ partnership with local businesses.
• A guest editorial by the Yes for Kids campaign calling for passage of the mill levy.

I do not have a dog in this fight as I am not a resident of Billings. I cannot imagine though, that when you look at the past troubles the Gazette has been in over unpaid advertising, this latest effort is doing any good for the proponents of the mill levy. The reporting is incredibly one-sided, albeit because opposition to school mills tends to be a silent majority, but I just read this stuff with a wary eye.

Meanwhile out West, I should plug a good write-up the Missoulian had a while back on where Montana ranks nationally in school funding issues. Of interest to me was this blurb;

Gov. Brian Schweitzer has refuted the MQEC arguments, saying the recent increases and policy changes have resolved the education funding problem.

Governor, I humbly submit today’s Gazette as evidence that in fact this issue is not resolved. On a broader note, the school funding issue will not go away until the State finds a dedicated funding stream like Roy Brown is pushing, namely by creating a trust fund from new energy development. Until that time you are going to see pitched battles on the local level between the education groups and their allies and property taxpayers who feel stretched too thin.

*Update:  Apparently the Billings Gazette did not get its point across with four articles yesterday so they came right out today and said to care for kids you have to vote yes on the mill before May 6.  Good to see our newspapers taking a balanced view on these issues.  Also, in case you missed it last night, Gee Guy has an interesting post up with the final tally on what a quality education will cost the state.