Rep. John Sellers: Defining local control and what it means for taxpayers

To The Daily Sun,

I have seen many letters to the editors in several papers or online media outlets talking about local control, especially regarding school districts. So, let’s define local control:

According to Merriam-Webster, local is a local person or thing (a thing being a school district) and control is, an act or instance of controlling; also power or authority to guide or manage.

To have perfect local control would mean the locals have authority over all the decisions in their school district including but not limited to expenditures and revenues without state and federal involvement.

If the government pays for something then they will have the authority of saying how to use the money — and we just lost local control. If any readers go to a bank and ask for a mortgage, the bank tells them the terms of it. If they don’t pay, the bank sells it.

Readers lose some local control every time they take money from the state and federal government. Governments also give enough money in the beginning, but later they pull the rug out, which leaves taxpayers now paying for the mandates.

So, do voters really want true local control or do they want the state and federal's involvement or money? They can’t have it both ways.

In my most recent letter to the editor, I stated the Democrats were causing people to go hungry by not passing the continuing resolution and I asked readers to call our Democrat Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and demand they vote to reopen the government. Seems like many readers did and the process is moving forward. I, and the poor, say thanks.

Please thank senators, it’s not easy going against leadership.

Rep. John Sellers

Bristol