10/20/2026
Taxpayer Tuesday, Week 10: the permanent improvement fund; my nominee for most underrated tool in school finance. PI dollars can only buy assets with a useful life of five years or more: roofs, buses, HVAC systems, pavement, technology infrastructure, security equipment. Not one cent can pay a salary; that's the law. Why does this matter to you? Because a dedicated PI fund means we maintain our facilities on schedule instead of deferring repairs until they become emergencies, and emergency repairs always cost more. It also protects classroom operating dollars from being cannibalized every time a boiler dies. This week's deep dive shows how we plan PI spending years in advance. Thank you to the voters who keep these PI levies in place. Full article on the website and in the links section.