Interesting to see what appears to be a grass-roots reaction to a governmental decision based on religious conservatism in the Eastern Lancaster County School District.

That residents and school board members might spend their valuable time debating the morality of gambling is telling. Of course there’s a debate to be had there; and the amount of money per taxpayer involved - a $66.53 reduction per bill - is not great. At the same time, though, the next time the school board finds itself forced to raise taxes, this refusal of state funds is going to become an even bigger issue.

The issue is indeed how the state has chosen to fund schools, and everyone involved will tell you the state should find a better, more equitable way. But for right now, gaming revenue is one way they have chosen - and so you turn it down to take a stand against the moral issues involved in gaming; but that does nothing for your taxpayers. And it will be curious to see, over time, how willing taxpayers in Elanco are to pay more in taxes in order to serve as a moral example; some obviously are. But others do have a case that “morality” - not to mention higher tax bills - are now being imposed upon them.