Our city has taken a hit lately, in terms of population. Consequently, enrollment in elementary schools has dwindled, and several are being shut down. Fewer kids being born is a bad sign for the tax collectors. Worse yet, college enrollment at our local State university is on a downward spiral. From a high of 11,000, spring enrollment now stands at 8,000. We’re struggling from a loss of revenue, and trying to figure out what to do. There’s a proposal to raise taxes to build new high schools, but that referendum may not pass. There’s only one ray of hope. A new casino was finally granted a license to operate here next year. The politicians are desperately seeking new tax revenue, and it looks like that may be their best bet. Will gambling rescue education in our city?
First, let’s look at college enrollment. Young people don’t attend college simply for educational purposes. The typical freshman often doesn’t even declare a major. They are looking for a new experience away from home. The social life. Parties, clubs, sports, fraternities, sororities. Meeting new people from other places, who have similar intellectual interests. Often, finding a husband or wife along the way. And the unspoken status symbol of having gone on to college. At our university, a majority are first generation college students. That is, the first in their family to attend college. They’re moving up! And they spend a lot of money at local restaurants and businesses while they’re here..
But the Covid-19 pandemic has changed all that. Online classes aren’t glamorous or exciting. And who wants to wear a mask everywhere you go? How many men and women are attracted to someone when you don’t know what they look like? Unless you are academically talented, you’re apt to skip college all together in favor of a highly paid job that doesn’t require a college degree. Restaurant servers often make $500 a night in tips.
The casino had to be voted in and approved by our citizens. Many people objected, foreseeing an increase in gambling addiction and organized crime. Still, the referendum passed, because it’s our only hope to generate new taxes. Will gambling rescue education? It looks like it.
