Some folks say that stimulus money is just like crack cocaine; one little taste and you’re hooked. Both are dangerous. Some Maine legislators have been careful to point out that the stimulus money needs to be used carefully, and for one-time uses only.
Unfortunately, this thin red line, between one-time and long-time, is being crossed.
See this account (School superintendents learn about stimulus funds, Portsmouth Herald -Seacoastonline.com, 3/18/09) of a DOE promise:
…superintendents came away from a meeting with education officials in Augusta Monday armed with plenty of information about how to account for any federal stimulus money, but with no further knowledge about how much money they’ll actually be getting.
Key among the information they did not receive was exactly how much will be coming to each district in special-education and federal Title 1 funds, said York Superintendent Henry Scipione.
“They said they would have it by yesterday, but now they’re saying the end of this week or maybe even next,” said Scipione, who had been waiting for figures to help the School Committee as it works to cut funds from the fiscal year 2010 budget.
The superintendents did receive assurances from both Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron and Gov. John Baldacci that $27 million will remain available to restore the cuts made in state aid to general education for the current fiscal year — including $372,000 in School Administrative District 35, $132,000 in York and $102,588 in Kittery. However, they were told late last month they would be getting those funds so it came as no surprise.
They were also assured that they would get the same restored funds back from the state for fiscal year 2010.
This is a two-year infusion of funds only…
And here our troubles begin continue deepen.
7 Deadly Sins
(Tom Petty and Mike Campbell)
Seven, seven, seven–deadly sins
That’s how the world begins
Watch out when you step in
For seven deadly sins
Seven deadly sins
That’s when the fun begins
(Seven deadly sins)
(Sin number one) was when you left me
(Sin number two) you said goodbye
(Sin number three) was when you told me a little white lie
Seven deadly sins
Once it starts, it never ends (seven deadly sins)
Watch out around the bend (seven deadly sins)
A seven deadly sins (seven deadly sins)
(Sin number four) was when you looked my way
(Sin number five) was when you smiled
(Sin number six) was when you let me stay
Sin number seven was when you touched me and told me why
Seven deadly sins
So many rules to bend
Time and time again
Seven deadly sins
Seven deadly sins
(Seven deadly sins)
(Seven deadly sins)
(Seven deadly sins)
Seven deadly sins
That’s how the world begins (seven deadly sins)
Watch out when you step in (seven deadly sins)
For seven deadly sins
Seven (seven) seven (seven) seven (seven) seven (deadly sins)