Taxpayers in all of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts have a right to ask questions about the additional $250 million for basic education that is included in the new state budget passed by the General Assembly on Wednesday.

Specifically, will that money, which will come from the taxes that they and businesses will pay over the next 12 months, really be used to make educational inroads, or will it simply be allocated to pay for excessive pay increases granted by school boards in teachers contracts?

Will any of it be used to provide special remedial instruction to students experiencing difficulty in subjects such as math or English or, instead, will a sizable chunk of it merely help districts more easily foot the cost of teachers' health care premiums?

Here in Butler County, teachers pay a mere pittance in comparison with what many workers in private business and industry contribute toward their own coverage. And yet, it is those workers in private business and industry who pay for the lucrative health care benefits most teachers embrace — through both their local school taxes and their state taxes.

If the additional $250 million allocated to basic education in the new budget really is intended to benefit students, then that's how it should be spent.

Budget highlights made available to the public initially said the $250 million in question would be used for public school operations, instruction and saving teaching jobs.

Saving jobs is laudable if the teaching positions really are needed. But if there isn't current or projected enrollment to justify saving certain positions, then those positions should not be retained.

The taxpayers of this state are being increasingly challenged by higher school district, county and municipal taxes — and most people pay plenty in federal and state taxes.

Taxpayers have a right to expect their money's worth.

In the case of the $250 million, they have a right to expect a significant part of that money to be used to directly benefit students' learning.

Once the $250 million is distributed, taxpayers in all districts should ask their school boards for a report on how the additional money will be spent.

Since it's their money, they have a right to know.