Should taxpayers pony up in West Allis-West Milwaukee?

Really?

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District blows through $17.5 million in reserves, resulting in a $2.1 million deficit and now it wants taxpayers to pony up so it doesn’t have to cut art classes for its kids?

Of all the government malpractice I’ve seen in the nearly 25 years I’ve been in Milwaukee, this one ranks right up there. When adults can't manage money in a school district, it's the kids who lose.

What should happen now? Should voters approve a referendum?

RELATED: West Allis school district turns to taxpayers after blowing through $17.5 million in reserves

As Annysa Johnson’s story revealed:

“While preparing for the annual spring 2015 debt payment, (Andrew) Chromy found a reference to a $2.59 million bill — for money borrowed to fund retiree benefits — that had never been budgeted. Alarmed, he began digging through district accounts, department-by-department. ... By the time Chromy and the district's auditors finished digging, they would find at least $14 million in overspending during the 2013-'14 and 2014-'15 school years alone — on everything from salaries and benefits to teacher training and technology — and questionable practices dating to at least 2007.”

The district has hired new leadership, cut its staff and budgets, gotten back some of the money in a lawsuit and is selling and/or leasing buildings, Johnson reports.

But the district also is going to the taxpayers in April for an additional “$12.5 million — or about $290 per student each year — beyond what they already pay in taxes for operating costs over the next five years.”

Otherwise, says Superintendent Marty Lexmond, the district may cut art and music and put off new ideas that could help plug the leak of students from the district.

Should taxpayers say "yes"?

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David D. Haynes is editorial page editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.