Letter: Use ‘surplus’ for better education

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005 | 9:22 a.m.

Nevada ranks 48th in education spending nationally, according to the news reports of late. Yet our governor is saying there is a $300 million "surplus," which the state plans to return to Nevadans in the form of car registration rebates.

Gov. Guinn says these refunds will find their way back into our economy. But doesn't money spent on education also find its way back into the economy? Money spent on teacher salaries, books or school supplies is still circulating, is it not?

I see all of this as more of the selfish, greed-driven myopia that has overcome our government and societal priorities. At what point do we decide Nevada's children are worth educating at a level commensurate with first on the list nationally? Or even just 20th on the list.

I believe there is a tangible economic and quality-of-life return from better- educated kids. The state should be sending every dime of the so-called surplus to the public schools.

STEVE WESSELLS

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