Last week, voters proved fickle when it came to big tax increases for schools.

More on that in a moment on the Face The State Radio Minute.

School executives are scratching their heads, befuddled at last week’s election results. Half the districts seeking big tax increases from voters were rebuffed at the ballot box, and the whining and moaning can be heard for miles.

Tuesday was a mixed bag. Denver did manage to pass the largest school bond in state history, but in Jefferson County, voters had no love for a similar pair of tax hikes. The economy is a factor, but district administrators also need to re-evaluate their sales pitch. Spending on education continues to grow with no limit in sight, but student achievement remains stagnant. Unfotunately, that’s not a conversation the teachers’ unions want to have. Pay for performance is rebuffed at every turn, and forget about firing bad teachers.

Bottom line, it’s not higher taxes that fix schools.

For FaceTheState.com, I’m Brad Jones.