More from the School Districts
Jun 24th, 2008 by Randy Toman
I think all the government agencies are about to enter un-chartered waters especially school districts, with regards to collecting of tax; people seem to want that type of spending. Somebody wrote me this morning with regards to what happen at the East Penn meeting and said they are robbing Peter to pay Paul and everybody seems to be on Paul side at least they think they are and they got a heck of a deal. If collectively we don’t wake-up to costs and spending we will all go down the tubes together. Between Federal spending, local school district spending, county level spending, city spending, and State spending were in the heck is all this money going to come from. And I didn’t even mention gas, food, and living expenses.
In case you were not a ware Allentown School district has on the drawing broads two major additions to their two high schools to the tune of, final bid for construction will be and I’m guessing over $90 million, right now they have a price tag of budgeting of $80 million. How can anyone pay for this????
Bethlehem School District has just added $65 million with a Liberty High School renovation project and they also have Broughal Middle School adding yet more millions.
If I was to add up all the school construction $ in the valley it would have to be well over 150 million and maybe that is to short sited.
From Bethlehem, Pa.
“The problem is that cutting the taxes also may equate to cutting programs and many people complain at each and every cut. In case you did not pick up on it, I raised our taxes last night as well. We (the BASD) managed to cut $6.5M out of the proposed budget but still were forced into a 5.38% increase due to lower revenue (less houses being built) and higher expenses (fuel, energy etc) coupled with some heath insurance issues that hit us this year. It was very painful for me to vote yes to the budget but there was little to no “fat” left to take out. We lowered the superintendent’s cabinet and other administrative staffing; we decreased teachers (all luckily through attrition) and still cut programs that the public was not happy about.”
I don’t know the details in East Penn but have listened to —— on WAEB a bit.
Not easy, this politics thing!
Again from a concerned citizen
Are you sure the meeting wasn’t stacked in favor of the Democrats? Democrats do have the majority in the LV and the Repubs seem to be giving up. The Dems seem to think that raising taxes is the solution to everything. This is what they are being taught, and with your tax dollars! The parents need to wake up but how? They don’t seem to know better.
And yet another remark
It is interesting, as Randy blogged http://www.lehighvalleyconservative.com/may-just-break-what/ today, how many people want more taxes. The word is “astounding”. However, those speaking were benefiting, parents who were getting educations costing 10s of 1000s for a modest property tax. The government monopoly has not been increasing students learning performance. I did not hear anyone ask; What are children learning? Property values were discussed and it is unfair to ask which programs should be cut. We don’t have that detail. Hammering the Homeowner seems to be okay. Communication builds Communities. Can you all keep the Homeowners on Fixed Income engaged. I would like someone to ask what children are learning and what measures are there to measure student performance. I am pretty sure there are internal tests. Even grades tell you something. Advanced Placement.
I was appalled at personal attack on J—– and I expect M— may have been —. What did he do wrong? Keeping the team together is crucial. Great job. Signs were good, and now everyone is aware of the problem. M and J will be able to get more information. J.H. seems to have done a good job in analyzing it. Good to see O.S. there.
Just like personal spending if you can’t get a handle on it, it will lead you to the poor house. Make no mistake about it we are heading in that direction.
Just because you do not agree with a tax hike does not mean those of us that do are automatically liberal or wrong. There is some merit to your opinion that unnecessary spending should be cut. I believe sports should be pay for play personally. Regardless of if that would save 1 million, it would still be 1 million.
Secondly, I REFUSE to blame the people who move into the new developments for the problems. They are seeking housing, the houses are being built. Some people have already bought homes as the 2nd owners of these places. They are not responsible for the building of the home, the previous owner was. All of this division accomplishes nothing. I have looked at the budget. I have been to the meetings. I would have voted yes if I were on the board.
Finally, for the record I do not have a child in the school district at the moment, but it will not be long. Damn you card carrying conservatives and damn the liberals. Those of us who are in the middle are getting tired of your bickering and being accused of being one or the other. Grow up.
Maybe you have no problem with the property tax increase for the public schools, others may. When tax increases are passed, every home and property owner in the district has to pay, not just you. Have you looked into private schools to make a comparison of what those schools cost and the subjects taught? Have you checked on the drop out rate compared to the public schools? How many card carrying members of the conservatives voted for the tax increase and how many card carrying liberals voted for the increase. There is a reason the conservatives are voting against a tax increase and it isn’t greed. It is the sad state of the public schools and the lack of choice. You have the right to vote for the tax increase and others have the right to disagree. I hope this response is “grown up” enough!