One thing impacts another or how the decisions in our schools affect those who don't have kids there and why we should care.

This is the first of a series concerning the health of the community and obstacles we must over come in today's changing environment as it applies to us personally in Clay County

I was sitting in a waiting room a while ago and got to talking to an elderly gentleman. Something was on the television that brought up the topic of taxes. This person started to comment about the local tax rate here and how so much of it went towards the school. He was in favor of a "user tax" where by only those parents who had kids in school would have to pay a fee. This shocked me for several reasons. First, it is well known that the level of education in a society directly relates to its economic level. Second, this went against the reasoning for our country having a public education system with the provision for everyone to get an education no matter what their socioeconomic level. It also found me wondering if this man had any faith background as every faith based community about which I've learned has had an important aspect of social responsibility that indicates the importance of taking care of each other as part of the work each of us must do in His name. He could just not see where paying for someone else's kids to go to school would help him.

Putting aside any Bible thumping reasoning about saving one's soul, or benefiting from a better life after death, we must seriously investigate his accusations as I have learned that there are a good number of citizens of this community who feel the same as he does. Having a community with a higher level of education can benefit the entire community on several levels, not only those who physically attend the school.

One level is how a prospective home buyer with school aged children weigh the investment of living here verses that in neighboring counties. Houses cost less here, sure. But you get what you pay for. Those looking to settle down somewhere where their children will get the best education possible will look hard at the quality of the schools. Not good for those who want to build houses, not good for those wanting to move somewhere else, not good for local realtors as their commission is less. Less homebuilding here means less building materials purchased. Less people living here means less income tax collected, less groceries bought at the grocery stores, less tires bought at tire stores, less money for road maintenance, less money for politicians salaries, less money for improvement to waterlines and sidewalks, police cars, and firehouse, etc. etc. See where I'm going here?

The same goes for business. Have you noticed that down by I 70 we just don't have the amenities that some of the other I 70 exit areas have in the state? What aren't we providing to prospective businesses that they decide to go to another exit in another county? Some want a Target store here. Do we have the county services that these businesses need in order to operate? Do we have the number of people with enough buying power to make it worth it to Target to invest in a store here?

So even if you want to shirk the social responsibility of helping thy neighbor, by making sure that your neighbor's kid can get a better education, think about it in the bigger picture. Even if your neighbors aren't able to pay the amount of tax money that you can, you must think about the money you pay for education through your taxes as part of your investment portfolio in order for the community to have enough money to provide police, roads, stores, health care, etc as that in turn will make the county a more attractive place in which others want to also invest. This in turn will improve your personal portfolio by improving your quality of life as well as any real estate you may own locally. I'll wager that it will also make you feel a lot better about yourself as well.