School budgets are being reduced more and more from year to year. Over the past six years, after the recession, education funding has declined significantly. New budgets provide less and less funding per student for K-12. At the same time, the country wants graduates to excel in their technical and analytical skills, although the decrease in education funds is contradictory and raises concerns. Budget cuts to education systems delay the ability of school districts to provide a high-quality education to their students. Restoring school funding should be a top priority. This is unacceptable. Most people would think that this overwhelming majority would also require the resources necessary for success. Instead, many of these so-called reformers are turning their backs on our children and our public schools. For the 2013-2014 school year, at least 34 states are providing less funding per student. Thirteen of those states cut their funding by ten percent. Fifteen of the states are providing less school district funding than the previous year. Despite the fact that most states are experiencing an increase in taxes. 44 percent of school funding comes from state funds, and cutting them means school districts must cut educational services or raise local property taxes to cover costs; some may need to do a combination of both. Education budget cuts began in July 2008 with a reduction in the number of teachers and other employees, but by August 2013, 324,000 jobs nationwide since 2008 had been lost. Some states increased funding for the current school years, but not enough compared to what was cut the previous year. New Mexico, for example, saw an increase of...... middle of paper ... only to turn around and repeatedly cut funding for their training and development. Why is school funding continually being cut? How can we cut school aid when there is extra money in the books from tattoo and body piercing shops, tanning salons, and regulation of pawn shops? It’s time to make education funding the priority we’ve all been calling for. The path we are taking dooms the future of our country's children. City leaders should do what it takes to dedicate enough money to a well-rounded education in every public school. The children of this nation deserve better. They deserve more. -education/http://list25.com/25-compelling-reasons-why-education-is-important/http://www.cbpp.org/files/9-12-13sfp.pdf