Is the Erie School District manipulating city taxpayers?

Based on this morning's story from Erica Erwin, it sure looks like it.

First, in late June, the school board voted on a budget that requires no tax increase.

Included in that budget is an allocation of $1.2 million to pay for textbooks.

Now, a little more than a month later, the same School Board is considering a plan to borrow $3.3 million to pay for textbooks.

The board offers what appears to be a logical explanation for the loan, saying it will pay for enough books to cover it for the next four years.

But I'm wondering why this wasn't addressed at budget time.

Shouldn't the district have budgeted for all of its books now, rather than saddling taxpayers with interest payments in the future?

That money will have to be paid back -- which means your taxes will ultimately go up.

The board will be able to brag (at least for now) that it kept taxes in check -- then can complain later that it will have to raise taxes to cover the interest payments.

By then, you'll have forgotten who voted for the loan in the first place.