I expect 2000 people to vote in the upcoming Laurel school referendum; the largest school election since Howard (Reds) Griffith and Mark Levy battled for a school board seat some 3 decades ago.
Interesting enough that’s about the number of people who have visited this site in one month to read the story I wrote and the details I posted on the referendum. That’s a lot of action for a young post like mine.
We have had nearly 70 comments with good questions and comments from both sides of the issues. I want to thank those who took time to express their opinions.
I think the maintenance staff has been attacked unfairly. Money doesn’t pour into the district because nothing new in the way of commercial buildings or housing developments is coming in to generate new revenue for the school. The schools are clean and well-maintained compared to other schools I have visited and newer ones at that.
Check the state’s web site for the amount of money the district pays in fuel and electric. How much has our utilities gone up in the past 5 years?
Ed Carmine has been the leader for the opposition; he hasn’t shot from the hip. He attended one of the public hearings, visited one of the schools, and met with the school administration with his concerns. He is a business owner and has to sign payroll checks on the front instead of being paid by someone and signing it on the back; makes a difference when it comes to paying out money. So I respect his concerns.
In one of his recent comments he has documented what the referendum if passed will cost you over the life of the referendum. To Ed the referendum is an economic issue; he feels the tax burden hits property owners the hardest and the working class. He and other opponents feel a scaled down effort will suit the needs of the kids and be less of a burden on the taxpayers.
To the other readers passage of the referendum is an educational issue, a financial sacrifice needs to be made to help our children, and a cut and paste solution is not the answer to providing the tools needed for a quality education.
An important point that has not been made, and I am at fault for this, is not all the money is for bricks and mortar; computers, books, desks, cafeteria equipment, etc. is included in the referendum costs.
True, farmland is taxed less than regular land, but farmers get hit with all the out-buildings they have and although they may pay a lesser tax on their land, they pay taxes on that land.
People owning rental property can’t always pass tax increases to their tenants especially now when many tenants have problems paying rent now. And thus the argument those who don’t own anything don’t pay taxes.
How do you decide how to vote?
Howard Dickerson who has a blog, “Delmar Dustpan” a local favorite says in his blog he and I probably won’t be living when the 20-yr bonds are paid; I hope I am so not to worry.
We hope in 6 years when the taxes double that the economy will be better and people will be making more money and will be able to pay the taxes; if the economy is not any better than now I don’t think any of us will have to work because we’ll all be living on the street.
I was dead set against the project when it was announced two years ago, and when it was revived last year for the same reasons like Ed.
I have reviewed the pros and cons of both sides, cringed when thinking of the taxes it will cost me and my bride, wondered if a downsized version would work, thought about the low test scores and wondered if I was throwing good money after bad.
Dr. John McCoy the districts superintendent has been here one year and the project was already on the board when he came. I truly believe as others have that we finally have a superintendent that will do more for our kids than collect a paycheck.
He has put capable people in key positions, a lot of non performing teachers are gone; he is shaking up the district, and working to improve the education programs.
He deserves a chance to produce results and to do that we do not need to tie his hands, but to give him the tools he says he needs to educate our kids and that includes new buildings with modern technology, modern equipment and a pleasant environment.
This not just about taxes and kids; it’s what type of community do we want, what type of people do we want living here?
This morning I spoke to a contractor who spoke recently to a realtor in a nearby community; the realtor was about to close a deal for a peice of land for a business to build there. Before closing the deal the prospect asked to look at the schools in the area. After he came out and saw the condition of the schools he said, “Sorry no deal.”
People move to area with better schools because they have a choice.
We have honor roll students graduating, going to college only to find they are not as prepared as students from other schools. As a result they struggle; some bust out. They deserve better and we owe then better.
The new schools will be energy-efficient using geothermal to heat and cool the buildings; windows will be energy-efficient resulting in savings that can be used for books and equipment.
I gave the story of my daughter who entered college seeking an engineering degree; her first week in class the professor was reviewing what other kids had learned in high school; my daughter had never heard any of it, so she struggled.
This referendum is more than just taxes and the kids; it’s about what do we want our community to be; as is or progressive? What type of people do we want living in our community; those who solve problems or those who are the problem?
This morning a contractor friend told me of a realtor in a nearby community who was selling a large parcel of land for a new business. The prospective buyer was about to close the deal and asked to visit the local schools. After visiting the schools and seeing the condition of the schools the prospective buyer backed out of the deal.
I am going to support this referendum and urge you to do the same. If this passes I know I am going to hate to see my new tax bills, but if I know the kids in Laurel are receiving a quality education and I had a small part in their success; I will not feel the pain.
A list of tax information is in my other post on the referendum.
We hope to be able to post the results of the election by 9 p.m. on this site.
