On March 30, two days before Illinois voters went to the polls on April 1, Phyllis Schlafly Eagles Executive Director Kurt Prenzler received a troubling message from a friend in the Triad School District, in Troy, Illinois. The friend had received a postcard from the school district favoring a $99.2 million bond issue. The card claimed it was “not intended to advocate” for one side of the issue, and yet it was paid for with taxpayer dollars and clearly presented only one side of the story. When the bond issue passed, a taxpayer sued, alleging that the district’s materials—postcard and related media—were biased advocacy and thus illegal under Illinois law. The lawsuit seeks to block the bond issuance.
This incident is not unique. Across the country, public school districts are increasingly spending taxpayer money on what they bill as “educational” or “informational” campaigns—all to persuade voters to approve bond issues and tax increases. While these districts insist their communications are neutral, they are often promotional and partisan. Take Houston, for example. Last year, its school district spent at least $1.48 million promoting a $4.4 billion bond issue—ultimately rejected by voters. The campaign, according to critics, was heavy on persuasion and light on balance. That familiar pattern is now playing out in Triad, Illinois.
Citizens are beginning to push back, however. In St. Louis County, Missouri, Proposition B was on the April 8 ballot this year. The county used taxpayer‐funded postcards to warn against the proposition, which would have granted the county council the power to fire department heads. After voters rejected the measure, county executive Sam Page was charged with statewide election offenses and felony counts connected to misusing public funds in the campaign.
These incidents raise a troubling question: When does “informational outreach” become campaign propaganda paid for by voters? State laws usually bar the use of public money to influence elections. Yet, many school districts appear to be skirting those laws, relying on vague disclaimers to mask advocacy.
Watchdogs say that many citizens only realize what’s happened after the election. Once a bond or tax goes through, it’s hard to reverse—even for those outraged by the misuse of their money. Advocates for taxpayer rights are demanding clearer laws, stricter enforcement, and greater transparency. Because when government schools use your taxes to push a political aim, what you’re getting isn’t a fair discussion or education for your kids—it’s partisan politics on your dime.
If you have concerns about transparency and accountability with your local school board or tax issue, get in touch with us today at PhylliSchlafly.com. Go to PhylliSchlafly.com and don’t forget to join us next time on the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/liberalism-and-conservatism/big-government/when-information-becomes-persuasion/
Phyllis Schlafly