Lessons in government spending are costly

I am still trying to clear up in my mind all this business about the mall, the new school office building and, of course, the much talked about dome.

I was under the impression the mall, which cost $3.4 million, was to house county offices, the school offices being included. Instead, we now have an $8.5 million building for schools alone. Now I read that the mall will be renovated (first phase to cost $2.3 million) to house some county offices and to draw tourists to our area. What about that will draw tourists?

Now to the dome. Whose idea was this anyway? It serves no purpose except for decoration. I just wonder how this helps in fostering more education for our students. Just think of the things this money could have supplied to our teachers and students —more school supplies, more field trips, money to keep teacher aides in the classroom (especially in kindergarten through third grade) and the list goes on.

I can think of just one way this dome on a high-priced building might help. Teachers can take their students on a field trip to the new building for a good civics lesson on how the “powers that be” waste taxpayers’ money. (I know that the final cost for the dome was not paid by the county, but they planned it.)

A proposed airport hangar is still on the drawing board. Who knows the final cost of this project? You can bet this, as well as the mall improvements, will be over budget.

Salisbury should change its name to “Little Washington.” It seems to have caught the spending fever as well. I shudder to think of the next project. I read if any money is available in 2020, it could go to the schools. Time will tell.

— Billie Bean

Woodleaf

Editor’s note: The schools’ central office was not in mall plans. Commissioners hope to find a new use for West End Plaza, in addition to government offices, that could benefit the community and draw people there.

Thanks for Night Out

The Habitat Homeowners of Forestcreek Community would like to thank everyone who participated in the National Night Out event held earlier this month.

We look forward to more opportunities to do things together for our neighborhood. Thank you.

— Flora Sorocki

Salisbury

Sorocki is president of Habitat Homeowners in Salisbury.