By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org

BENTON CITY, Wash. – Public school funds and property have been the targets of constant larceny for decades – both legal and illegal.

Teachers unions across the nation use the collective bargaining process to suck up all the tax money they can get their hands on, regardless of whether enough is left to properly instruct students. Too many school districts hand out credit cards to employees without keeping track of what was purchased or why.

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Now the maintenance and operations director of the Kiona-Benton City School District has been accused of selling district equipment on eBay for thousands of dollars of personal profit.

Enough is enough.

Mark Noyes, who makes $69,000 per year in his administrative position with Kiona-Benton schools, allegedly sold 10 sensors that control heating and cooling systems for $500 apiece, a camera for about $30 and an undisclosed amount of paper, according to the Yakima Herald.

Sheriff’s deputies who investigated the situation are recommending that Noyes be charged with theft and trafficking in stolen property. The final decision on charges will rest with the county prosecutor, according to the news report.

It’s high time that lawmakers in all 50 states draw an extremely hard line when it comes to theft of public property or funds.

Citizens work very hard to earn money to pay their taxes. That’s particularly true for overburdened property owners, who in many states have to pay ridiculous tax bills to fund local schools, while many of the parents of the children who attend those schools sit around and collect welfare.

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The money collected for public institution, and the materials purchased with that money, must be designated as legally sacred, and anyone who steals it should be made to pay a very steep and extremely painful price.

Our guess is that Noyes, if charged and found guilty, will get a slap on the wrist – at the most a few measly years in state prison.

That would not be a sufficient punishment.

Perhaps a lifetime prison sentence, with no opportunity for parole, would make other potential thieves clearly understand that public funds and property are not to be messed with – ever – under any circumstances.