In Ephesians 4:25 it says “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
Basically saying be honest and speak truthfully as we are all in this together but as we go head long into one of the most divisive issues which we face and that is the property tax increase which is being bantered around and we have heard the pro and cons concerning both sides and the opinions of why people feel the way they do.
As those that spout the need of more money from the opulence of the Central Office along with the others who agree due to the fact of added income and security as being “essential” to the education of our children, please take into consideration the following that many of the people of our community do not make six figure salaries and live in $500,000 homes and the additional taxes which are to be assessed will be burdensome. Let’s see some of them try to make ends meet on a fixed income of $25,000 a year or less but then we’ll set up another office of bureaucrats to make the assessment of whether or not a person would qualify to be exempt from the additional taxes.
I almost agree with Rhonda Thurman that the biggest problem faced by our students is the lack of disciple and respect, but I would put the blame on administrators who tell us that it’s all about the lack of money “invested” and that has worked for a while duping us to open our pocket books and accept tax increases but as we have seen the results are not there. You see Rhonda is not “qualified” as she is just a crazy, trouble making hair dresser but I can guarantee you that when she speaks it is with facts and passion not only for the students but for the taxpayers of our county.
We also are awaiting for the results of the study which we will be told that we have to spend additional money to bring our school building up to what they deem as “acceptable” with an additional need for funds and yes this “study” was done by an out of state consultant who received $500,000 of our tax dollars to tell us things we already know. You would of thought we would of had an “assistant to an assistant” at Central Office that should have been able to assemble information to try to convince us of our needs concerning this. I will say this, that there have been quite a few new schools built but I question why so extravagant? I would say it’s because the engineers and architects chosen receive their fees not by square footage but by the final total cost but that’s another thing. Some argue that children learn better in these palaces of learning but how many years was Falling Water Elementary in a building over 100 years old one of the top performing schools in the county?
So here’s the question that must be answered by those who have the authority, or should I say responsibility, if taxes should be raised if that which is taken is it really taxes or is this just theft?
Jay Reed
Falling Water