During a recent government meeting, community members expressed urgent concerns regarding a $17 million surplus in the school district's budget, emphasizing the financial struggles faced by local residents. Carol Hillard, a Danville resident, passionately called for the return of surplus funds to taxpayers, highlighting that many families are at risk of losing their homes due to rising costs. She criticized the school board for not recognizing the hardships voters are enduring and suggested reallocating $3 million from the current budget to cover lease payments instead of drawing from the surplus.

Hillard's remarks were echoed by Mary Anne Springer, who initially praised the school board's decision to retain a portion of the surplus for future lease payments but later retracted her support. She argued that the district could afford to make early lease payments without utilizing retained surplus funds, suggesting that a significant portion of the surplus could be returned to taxpayers. Springer raised questions about the thoroughness of budget comparisons between fiscal years and urged the board to act responsibly with the surplus.

The meeting highlighted a growing momentum among community members, particularly within the Timberlane Tax Impact Group, who are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the school board's financial management. The sentiment among residents is clear: they demand accountability and transparency from their elected representatives, insisting that their needs and concerns be prioritized in budgetary decisions.