Gomers: What's going wrong

NOT SO FREE: Public education is free to all but increasingly there's an asterisk next to “free.”

With budgets under more pressure, more school districts are charging annual textbook fees or raising ones already in place.

State law also allows fees for such things as computer software, driver education classes and summer school. If you have more than one child in K-12, textbooks alone can cost more than $100 at many schools.

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RIVERSIDE: In December 2005, the city of Riverside signed an agreement that called for Washington County to issue revenue bonds to pay for major sewer and water projects in the city, related to service demands from the new Riverside Casino and Golf Resort.

The city agreed to help offset the county's loss of tax increment financing revenue by paying $175,000 annually until the bonds were paid off. The city was to use a portion of the state gaming tax it receives from the casino operation to cover its payments.

After one payment, city officials said Riverside doesn't want to pay any more, saying its debt is in violation of a state law.

Huh? The county is suing the city.