The REAL culprit here? Shrinking rural areas. We need to consolidate counties and close schools. We are fiscally choking ourselves to death and NOT giving ALL of our kids adequate education and extracurricular opportunities. The 105 county system was created when we traveled by horse. Does anyone still go to the county seat in a wagon? Cmon! We don't need 105 county clerks! If the consolidation of counties and schools kills towns then let them die! Most of these rural areas are already HIGHLY subsidized through government payments to agriculture producers not to mention the free and reduced lunch programs, etc. I am sure this will piss some folks off but if your business can't make it on its own then neither should a town. I am sick and tired of the redistribution of wealth via property taxes and the increasing number of administrators and politicians to run our schools. No one on here wants to talk about the cost because they just ask for a budget increase to cover them.