Dear Editor,<\/p>\n
I was bemused to read the comments about me in the Reader\u2019s Column. It just reinforced my assertion that the \u201cno taxes\u201d folks could not and cannot comprehend the some folks found the budget and its modest tax increase acceptable. And wasn\u2019t it rather gutless of them to use the Reader\u2019s Column in order to avoid attaching their names to the comments.<\/p>\n
Especially interesting was the dissertation proving that only 6 percent of the voters approved the budget. Of course the same rationale proves that only 4 percent of the voters voted no. A \u201cfact\u201d conveniently overlooked of course because it counters their version of the truth. But no matter how you count it, the budget passed. Handily.<\/p>\n
Absolutely mindboggling was the statement, \u201cMore likely the 60 percent are school employees and parents, not the taxpaying public.\u201d Absolutely mindboggling.\u00a0As if the parents don\u2019t pay taxes and have no interest in the school? Do the employees not pay taxes either?\u00a0 (Note: I outlined a few weeks back how everyone pays taxes). Perhaps the \u201cno taxes\u201d folks believe that only those who will vote \u201cno\u201d should be allowed to vote.<\/p>\n
The budget increase was only 3.1 percent and the tax levy increase was just 3.72 percent. This following years of fairly level budgets, minimal increases in taxes, and significant cuts in instruction and programs. It allowed the school to finally maintain its levels of instruction and programs without further erosion of our highly ranked school system.<\/p>\n
The voting results show it was deemed acceptable. It passed the super-majority level too, although not necessary because OA stayed under its tax cap of 5.32 percent. Did the dissenters happen to mention that the district stayed under its tax cap? Only used 70 percent of the allowable increase. Looking out for the taxpayers. Again, did they mention this? Didn\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n
Throwing out a dollar number to make the increase seem astronomical is just another spin move by the \u201cno taxes\u201d people to make a reasonable increase seem like a major disaster. Their mantra seems to be \u201ccut everything so my taxes don\u2019t go up and I\u2019d rather see them lower.\u201d No concern for consequences. No care about reducing educational opportunities. No feelings of any community obligations to their children\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
The \u201cno taxes\u201d group has been preaching for years unsuccessfully. Unsuccessfully because the budgets keep passing. Perhaps because the general public wants to keep our schools, and the education it provides, as viable and desirable as possible.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Rich Ives<\/p>\n
Owego, N.Y.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Editor, I was bemused to read the comments about me in the Reader\u2019s Column. It just reinforced my assertion that the \u201cno taxes\u201d folks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-letters"],"yoast_head":"\n