We reject the view that more money automatically yields better education; but no school can afford to deliver an excellent product in a pleasant setting without
reasonable operating dollars.
«The mayor should understand the difference between long term capital investments and the immediate need
for operating dollars now.»
However, indirectly, TIF funding does
free operating dollars that would be needed to support debt service on capital projects such as the building, renovation and expansion of schools at CPS.
While a majority of New York charter schools are currently co-located with district schools in public facilities, many charters have to
divert operating dollars to pay for private facilities.
Spending operating dollars on facilities often means that charter leaders are not able to afford the variety of programming their students desire.
Of those who would, it says the state would save only 86 cents on
the operating dollar and no construction costs.
Of course, it will always be the students who suffer when the money is cut — and a lot of magnets get
their operating dollars from the funds that the state contributes for out - of - district students.
The use of TIF to fund schools projects and issue bonds means that CPS does not have to issue bonds and use
its operating dollars to pay debt service.