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Prince George's voters will decide in a few days whether to raise the tax on phone bills to benefit the county school system.

Ballot Question F would add about $2 per month to each phone bill — land lines and cell phones — and generate about $17 million for the school system, if approved by voters.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson proposed the measure in an attempt to help shield the school system from budget cuts caused by the struggling economy. So far, the school system has had to slash $14 million and, if the economy continues to suffer, Johnson says there could be more cuts.

The county school system has made great strides in standardized test scores over the years, and new programs started by outgoing Superintendent John E. Deasy show promise. To protect that progress, it seems that a couple of dollars a month would be worth spending.

However, Prince George's residents are at their limits. Gas, food and utility prices are up, state taxes have increased, and the county continues to lead the state in foreclosures. In addition, the county is one of only five state jurisdictions that already charges a telephone tax — an 8 percent sales tax on bills — and would have the highest telephone tax in the state if the amount is raised. It would be ridiculous to raise the amount even higher.

Making matters worse, the school board has decided to consolidate offices and move into new headquarters at a cost of $36 million. Granted, the cost would be spread over 10 years, but in this climate of belt-tightening, it would be unfair for school officials to spend millions on new office space and tell residents to spend more to help schools. Such decision-making raises questions about the judgment of school leaders and how they would spend the $17 million if approved by voters.

Given the county's high crime rate and continuing need for school progress despite some already high taxes, residents are right to feel overtaxed and underserved. Raising the telecommunications tax would only exacerbate this sentiment, which led to the creation of TRIM (Tax Reform Initiative by Marylanders), a voter-imposed requirement that county increases be approved by referendum.

Johnson had hoped to get the telecommunications tax approved through the County Council, citing it as an increase in a state tax. However, since the increase impacts county residents alone — a possible TRIM conflict — the council correctly put the decision before voters.

The money generated by this tax would be a drop in the bucket for the nearly $1.7 billion the school system has been allotted this year. School leaders will have to do like so many other government offices, businesses and residents have had to do this year and search internally for ways to cut out waste and maintain successful programs.

It is hard to turn down dollars for the school system when so much work is still needed, but without thoughtful spending from school officials, it is not right to ask Prince George's residents to give even more.

Question F: Telecommunications

and Service Sales and Use Tax

An Act to increase the sales and use tax on gross receipts from telecommunications service within Prince George's County from 8 percent to 11 percent to increase funding available to the Prince George's County Board of Education.