We realize attending budget hearings is not the most exciting way to spend a weeknight. But how public bodies — school boards in this case — spend tax dollars should matter greatly to all of us. It’s your money after all.

Both Brookhaven and Lincoln County school districts recently had budget hearings and very few members of the public bothered to show up.

The county district plans to spend about $28.7 million in the upcoming year. The Brookhaven School District plans to spend about $31 million.

That’s serious money and a good chunk of it comes from local sources — ad valorem taxes. That’s the taxes paid on all sorts of property — homes, car tags, business equipment, etc.

Depending on how much money each district requests from local sources, your taxes could increase. That should be enough incentive for all of us to pack the board rooms.

Now that the public hearings have taken place, those boards will vote on budgets. It’s too late for the public to address the boards with any financial concerns, but sitting in on the next meeting will give you an opportunity to see how board members vote. You can also pick up a copy of the budget to look over.

Yes, we will report on the budgets in the newspaper but nothing replaces actually attending these meetings as a member of the public. Even if you don’t have children in the public school system, all of us should care as taxpayers how tax dollars are spent.

It will soon be budget time for the city and county, and the public will have more opportunities to weigh in on how tax dollars are spent. We encourage everyone to take the time to do just that.