Doing things "for the children" is a tried and true method for getting more money from taxpayers. It should not be a successful ploy to raid the permanent fund earnings. We already spend more than one billion dollars a year on education in this state. State law mandates 70 percent of state funds must go to the classroom.

School districts should be maintaining their physical structures out of the money that the state gives them every year. To not maintain their buildings is fiscal irresponsibility of the highest magnitude. Don't reward them by bailing them out. It's time for legislation that mandates a set percentage for building maintenance. It is not time to use this as an excuse to raid permanent fund earnings.

Fred Sturman

Soldotna