Let me start by saying I am one the property tax payers and have no children

in the district anymore. Here is a perspective that is not very popular in

certain circles but I want to at least present it first then give my views

of some of your thoughts! On average it costs about $8,000 per child per

year to educate them. That is not necessarily the cost at Muhlenberg at the

moment but follow the thought. If you figure each child goes to school for

13 years and the average family has 2 children the cost for the average

education over that time per family is over $200,000. How long would it

take to pay that in your property taxes?

Now on to other issues. About 30 years ago the state gave school districts

about 50% of the money to operate the schools. Today we get approximately

20 cents on the dollar. At one point the state had statewide teachers

contracts. They could not control the costs so they said here local school

boards you do it. It has been no easier for us than for them! The state

and federal government continue to give us mandates and DON'T fund them. We

have to tax you the local tax payer to fund those mandates! They

legislature passes legislation like the retirement bill (2 years ago) that

increases their retirements by 50% and teachers by 25% and of course as with

other programs the school must contribute at a higher rate than before as

well as the teachers. This too must come out of our pockets!! These are

just a few examples of the types of things forced on the school districts

and we must come up with the financial solutions. Then there is No Child

Left Behind and Individuals for Disability Education Act. These two are

federal laws and again Little or NO funding. We again must pay the bill.

My question is this, with these continually added items thrown on the

schools and certainly not anywhere near 100% funding and the very same

increases you feel in Electric, Natural Gas, Water, and Sewer, as well as

pay increases (4.2%) this year and the very same healthcare cost increases

everyone else is feeling ( all staff do contribute and have deductibles and

co-pays) how are we suppose to have to do anything but raise taxes?

Another issue I am very much in touch with is relief from the level of taxes

that exist today! I have been promoting for a while now the changing of the

rent rebate program at the state level! Increase the level of the incomes

and the level of refund and with the beaurocracy already in place (no more

cushey political jobs needed) the program can give seniors and low income

people relief today!

As far as the Common Wealth Caucus plan for Property tax relief it is a

benefit to the rich and nothing to the poor. Example, a property owner

(several rentals included) I know pays $15,000 a year in property taxes. He

will get the windfall of the tax relief. The renters in his units get

nothing and pay more in sales tax! Although they say no more property taxes

you are correct in that it will only mean no more school property taxes.

Also with doing away with the property tax, all businesses will pay nothing

and their employees will literally pick up the tab as they and we pay more

sales tax because of more items (necessities) will be taxed. In addition

there is no proposal for funding schools except for the initial year of the

bill. In this year they will hold each district harmless, meaning they will

get their current budget amount.

As far as an open budget you have the right to request to see the budget and

can do so at the Admin Building. You only need to call to make an appt to

do so!

In closing I say I understand the concerns of all residents and I am a part

of the taxed public. I go to conferences where I also hear the issue or

results of the things like referendum as they have happened in California

and New Jersey. In both states they are in a crisis of sorts be schools are

literally falling down around students because there is no money to fix or

replace them! So when I say I am trying to weigh both sides I am! I

presented two current programs to the board two weeks ago that are not

mandated programs and could be eliminated and did not have the support to

get rid of them. Now understand the combined revenue gain from the removal

of the programs would be less than $150,000 but that is almost what we got

in ADDITIONAL state revenue last year!

Thanks for your concern and I hope this shows you I too am concerned but we

are limited in what we can do by law!