posted July 2, 2005
If you want to let Commissioner Larry Henry know that you don't want taxes raised, e-mail Sheila and Red Burrows. Please sign your name and address of your residence.
This not only affects District 7 people, but everyone in Hamilton County. Most people that want the tax increase are county people who do not have to pay city and county taxes. How would they feel if they had to pay double taxes?
I don't think they would like that, but that is what we in the city have to do.
Please let us know how you feel. We will forward this on to the proper people. Let's stop this now. A lot of people just cannot afford higher taxes. Accountability is what we need. I appreciate Skillern, Adams, Thurman and Miller because they are thinking about the other group of people, even though they are getting a lot of childish things said about them. Let's stand behind the people who are trying to help others besides themselves.
Sheila & Red Burrows
sheilaburrows@netzero.net
* * *
I don't like my taxes increased any more than the next person. The commentary from Sheila and Red Burrows was that we should stand behind people who are trying to help others rather than help themselves. I believe that is exactly what I am doing when I say that the Hamilton County Commission has neglected their reponsibility to the school system far too long and needs to find more funding for them.
My children are grown (left Chattanooga for better opportunities elsewhere) and my wife doesn't teach so I have no special interest of my own in raising taxes. My interest in in helping others... the children who have no vote to help themselves.
If you study the facts you will realize that we in Tennessee and in Hamilton County have one of the lowest aggregate tax rates of anywhere in the USA. It is far too easy for people to hide behind the veil of "school mismanagement" rather than do the reponsible thing and find more funding for our children.
There are a lot of good people in this county (including people who have no self interest) who will accept a tax increase in the spirit of helping others.
Bill Wilkerson
wilker_w@bellsouth.net
* * *
Sheila & Red Burrows are right on. And I have already followed their
suggestion and contacted Commissioner Henry to let him know that, like
most citizens of Hamilton County, I am against any tax increases.
The Hamilton County Commission has not neglected its responsibility to
fund the school system. Its responsibility under our state constitution is to provide what is necessary, not everything the superintendent and school board ask for. If commissioners funded everything Jesse, Chip & Co. wanted, the county and everyone in it would be bankrupt.
Hamilton County schools are actually near the top in per-student funding
for school systems in Tennessee. This is despite the fact that Hamilton County is (unfairly) next to last in per-student funding from the state.
County taxpayers are already doing more than their share to make up
the difference. Enough is enough!
If Mr. Wilkerson or others in our county believe the school system is
underfunded (I do not; funding has been consistently increasing, and the
number of students decreasing, since the merger) then they would do
better to direct their attention to state lawmakers with a view to
remedying the inequities caused by the "Basic Education Plan" which
might be better described as the Robin Hood Plan since it "robs from the rich to give to the poor" by taking money away from larger counties like Hamilton to dole it out to smaller counties. Robbing from the "rich" (yeah, right, how many of you out there feel rich?), after all, is still robbery.
Even more to the point: anyone who, like Mr. Wilkerson, wants to see
himself or herself as a "good person" willing to "accept a tax increase
in the spirit of helping others" is free to write a check to the county
school system (or the county general fund) as a voluntary donation.
That would be morally superior (more "good") than using force to take money from others.
If you "good people" don't want the money to have to filter through the
bureaucracy (what? mistrust the government?!), then take David Carroll's suggestion and make the check out directly to a particular school, or just buy some supplies and give them to your favorite teacher.
If on the other hand, like me, you are convinced that giving Hamilton
County government more of your hard-earned money is throwing good money
after bad, then please call or write Commissioner Henry and urge him to
reconsider support for any tax increase. Now, more than ever, he needs to hear from us!
Joe Dumas
Signal Mountain
joedumas@bellsouth.net
* * *
Mr. Ray, you said that the people of Ooltewah were glad that Mr. Henry wants to raise their property tax. How far wrong you are. While you were taking your pleasure over the weekend my wife and I were out knocking on doors in District 7. We polled close to 200 people and only three had no say, four say they supported Mr. Henry, the rest said no (plus other things) that they did not support Mr. Henry. These names will be turned over to the commissioners Wednesday 7/6/2005.
Mr Ray, some of these may be your customers and they may think that gas prices are bad enough without raising their property tax.
Red Burrows sheilaburrows@netzero.net
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