Well, the mullet are jumping, the wind is out of the east and Mobile Bay’s late evening tide is rising. On the Eastern Shore we all know what that means, right? That’s right: There’s another big jubilee on the way. This one’s called football season.

In fact those signs portend football all over the county and fans don’t need a net, a gig and a lantern to partake in the bounty. But it’s not free. Friday night lights, equipment, full time coaches and trainers, professional referees, turf management, insurance—even fundraising itself—all add up in the red. And the red pens don’t grow on trees either.

Every few years, we have to spend taxpayer dollars to help keep our public schools up to speed by going to vote. Fortunately most of us have supported such referendums and I hope that continues. Turns out taxation with representation is still a pretty good idea, but one of the best ideas we ever had was providing as many as possible with a chance to learn how to learn and to become productive citizens. All schools benefit the public—the people, whether they are private or tax supported. And of course the taxpayers have a right to audit and evaluate the performance of “their” schools.

Civilization survived through long periods of private education, including religious-based schooling. But providing education to as many as possible as long as possible can only help ensure the survival of great ideas like democracy, liberty, good sportsmanship in all things and of course pizza.

The price of a ticket is only part of the support needed. Programs everywhere need extra funding every season every year. And postseason success does not include free rides to playoffs and state championships. Baldwin County has athletic programs that have the potential to go all the way to state title games and band and academic activities that regularly qualify for national and international recognition. Supporting them is also a fun way to take part and sometimes you get a cool tee-shirt to show for it.

Schools will be holding booster club events for a variety of extra-curricular teams and clubs soon. In the sports world, it just happens to be football, volleyball, cross-country and cheerleading season coming up next, but there are many more organized activities in need. It’s really back-to-school season. And there wouldn’t be many sports to follow without school. But I could always go back to selling shoes.

In some states, a public school comes with a great deal of taxpayer support built in for extra programs. Not so much here. Mayor Tony Kennon of Orange Beach and his neighbors know first hand that the state apparently does not seem to have the funds to help keep the roads less congested—I’m talking “Public Roads” of course. And yet roads come in handy for kids to get to school, any school, ball park or beach or church, for taxpayers to get to work and emergency workers to do their invaluable duties—and we always prefer them to be educated, don’t we.

I guess I’m saying our leaders need to do a better job of allocating our funds to keep up with growth, i.e., congestion, in all its forms as well as anticipating needs instead of reacting. And we the people need to accept that an increase in property taxes may be necessary to help. I wouldn’t want to do away with fundraisers, though. Especially by the die-hard booster. Taxes may make the civilized world go round, but enthusiasm makes it a lot more fun.

So tip your server, your porter or bellhop, your barber, your pet’s barber and even your favorite sports reporter’s barber—appropriately. But don’t forget to tip your public school in addition to your taxes. Just pick a program—academic, athletic, artistic and give.

Be more than a fan, more than a neighbor, be part of the team.