Market economics don't apply here. First, education is compulsory. Second, paying for public education via taxes is compulsory. Thus, everyone has to pay, regardless of how high it is; and if you don't like the quality, you have to pay again to go elsewhere.
Market behavior doesn't apply when the guys with the guns are forcing you to accept their dictates (citation: economics 101).
Now, look at the thing weighing against low cost:
* Teachers' union demanding high pay and benefits, and forming an extremely powerful voting bloc.
* Parents demanding that a 20th sport be added to educational program - they're an organized voting bloc, while the opponents are diffuse and affected less strongly (tragedy of the commons).
Well, excuse me, I thought I was simply responding to the question about why more affordable education would be desirable.
Didn't mean to get pulled into your Ayn Rand reality distortion field. I'll just be moving along.
Btw, Opaque budget data? Get off your lazy butt and go to Town Hall or City Hall. It's all there. If you put in the mental effort to read it and ask some smart questions, you might learn details that complicate your simple world view.
