Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Seed of Doubt (R. Charles Sneed)

On Tuesday February 2 the Greenville voters are being asked once again to approve another tax increase for the city school system, this time it is for a new 5-8 grade school building. It is said we need to replace the old buildings for numerous reasons, safety and security issues, out dated heating and ventilation systems, handicap accessible and more. We have been told it is a 2.89 Mill Bond Issue $24,700,000 for 37 years which is true for building the new school. However, they failed to mention, in any of the propaganda or during the town hall meeting, there is an ADDITIONAL TAX LEVY .50 Mills for 23 years to pay for the cost of maintaining classroom facilities included in the project. You have to vote for or against both. These actions, neglecting to tell the voters the whole truth, campaign siqns without the date of the election on them, along with having tax payers pay, in the neighborhood of $25,000, for a “special election” seems like the same old tactics and has went along way in planting the seed of doubt in many voters minds.

It is no wonder the community is split over the building of a new school. Those that are for it do not believe (or care) that many voters are struggling to make ends meet during these difficult economic times and expect them to make even bigger sacrifices. Those against do not believe, because the seed of doubt, what they have been told about all the issues, along with being taught to live within your means and seeing the increase on the new tax bill are not willing to make those sacrifices. Both sides have some legitimate issues. So why is neither side willing to make any concessions? It is said a building is only as good as its foundation and the same can be said about a community. What is the foundation of a good community? TRUST! Like any project, you start with the foundation and work up from there.

[Note to readers: this is the second levy-related article submitted by Sneed]

22 comments:

  1. You are right Mr. Sneed.I agree with you totaly.This city does need a new school but the tatics and the way they want to pay for it is wrong.

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  2. I believe the citizens of Greenville have had many opportunities to know all there is to know about this levy. I applaud the committee for a good and thorough job in getting the information out. It is unfortunate that some persons, like Mr. Sneed, are just looking for excuses.

    I am voting "yes" for the levy. It is a worthy investment in our children's future, and in the future of our community.

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  3. you're right that they didn't hammer home the fact that there are 2 separate levies, but they HAVE been COMPLETELY honest about the total cost.

    they have REPEATEDLY stated the cost to the homeowner would be approx 118/yr per 100k of value, this includes BOTH levies.

    Sort of a reach to criticize if you ask me.

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  4. Kurt Bluff is absolutely correct. Mr. Sneed, is your objection because you cannot afford this levy, or simply that you just don't want to pay it? Many supporters will be hard-pressed to pay the additional, but feel it is for the greater good.

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  5. Joe, I don’t think people are looking for excuses. During these economic times I believe they are being fiscally responsible. You make purchases when you can afford them, and unfortunately many can not afford to take on additional expenses, especially since all property owners just took on additional expenses with last years school levy.

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  6. John, as has been stated numerous other times, a person with a 100k home will pay less than 33 cents a day for this new school. I know that for some homeowners this may be a hardship; however, if we postpone this construction, the cost will be even greater due to rising construction costs and the loss of state money. I also know our school taxes are currently some of the lowest in the state.

    All of this has been explained numerous times by others. A sacrifice is worth it when it is for our kids and for the community. I stand by my previous response.

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  7. John, you sound like an intelligent man to me...I bet someone was willing to invest in you at some point in your life. The cost of a brighter future for our kids will be less than 30 cents A DAY for most people in this community...too much? I don't think so. And Mr. Sneed, there is no one more open and honest about the costs of this school than Susie Riegle, but have you been listening, or just complaining?

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  8. John, let's say you're a homeowner, and your furnace goes out. Not fixable, completely dead. But you're trying to be fiscally responsible. You can't take on any additional expenses. But what about something that is needed. You need that furnace, have to have it. So what do you do? You get a new furnace.

    That's how I feel about the schools, we need it, we have to have it. You can't ignore the things you have to have.

    Like I've said before, if we wait until everyone wants to raise property taxes we will never have new buildings. Someone is always going to be struggling. Someone is always going to be tight on money. Nobody will ever eagerly raise taxes. It won't be the right time in 5 years. In 10 years. In 50 years. In 100 years. It will never be a good time to tax the people.

    There is no time like today.

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  9. If my furnace goes out & needs replace, I replace it or freeze, possibly die. I don’t think anyone will freeze or die without a new school. Now let’s look at your example… since my furnace goes out and needs replaced, I just say heck, let’s build a new house… building cost are supposedly low, interest rates are low, so why fix a furnace… and even better I’ll make my neighbors pay for it. Pretty silly thinking, at least I think so.

    Invest an additional $.30 per day? Let’s see we just did this invest a cup of coffee a day last year and a can of coke per day the time before. We’re getting close to a meal now. Property owners should not have to bear the brunt of a school building, operation and payroll… rather it should be funded by the community. I support education, I just am not a believer that a new building will provide a better education, and I certainly believe it should be funded by all.

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  10. a new school does not help test scores, does not help in make new jobs the ppl that run this town dont care about new jobs they have one, the good old buddy System in are schools and are town needs to stop. you keep giving them money they will keep misspending it

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  11. J.K. You could not be further from reality. Learn how to spell and go look for a job to pay the taxes!

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  12. In Response to John (2:28)

    "If my furnace goes out & needs replace, I replace it or freeze, possibly die. I don’t think anyone will freeze or die without a new school."
    The point is that it's a needed amenity to make it usable. The school is outdated and costly to upkeep, just like your junk furnace. Let's be honest, you're not going to freeze and die. That's dumb. You're going to work to pay for a new furnance, esp if the government offers you a tax credit to do so.


    "Now let’s look at your example… since my furnace goes out and needs replaced, I just say heck, let’s build a new house… "
    Only if the cost of a new house is less than the cost of a new furance. In the school's case, it is less expensive to build new than to dump money into the old buildings. The maintence and upkeep costs rise and rise.

    "building cost are supposedly low, interest rates are low, so why fix a furnace… and even better I’ll make my neighbors pay for it. Pretty silly thinking, at least I think so."

    Because you're thinking is stupid. If you wanted to make it an apt comparison, say you're the landlord of the building. You don't make your neighbors pay for it, you would make your tenants pay for it. you know, the people who use it and benefit from it? The new school isn't just for certain people in the community, it's for everyone in the community, including Seniors and out of school folks, etc. And yeah, if it was cost effective to build a house over buying a new furnace, i'd hope you would do it. In this case it is more fiscally responsible to spend the money now on a school rather than throw away money on keeping the old buildings up and running.

    "Property owners should not have to bear the brunt of a school building, operation and payroll… rather it should be funded by the community."

    Really? Are property owners not the community? Are you to propose a sales tax that local corporations (including walmart, etc) will not have to chip in for? Property taxes suck, but they're the most realistic and economical way to raise money for the new school.

    "I support education, I just am not a believer that a new building will provide a better education, and I certainly believe it should be funded by all."

    No one thinks the new building is going to inherently generate a better education. Rather, it creates more tools and opportunities for a better education. Do you think kids can learn the ins and outs of the various communication methods and technologies in the old buildings? Do you realize how expensive it is to add those new items to a 100 year old structure? A new building doesn't increase a teacher's ability to teach, but it does create more tools to work with, more opportunities to learn, and a healthier environment for the kids.

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  13. Kurt, Exactly it is stupid and that’s what the reasons thus far as why we need a new school. Property owners are certainly a part of the community; however they are not the total community.

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  14. My property taxes have increase enough in the last few years. I can't vote for something that will increase them again.

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  15. Just remember a few years ago Bradford, Missisinawa, Ansonia got new school buildings and Two of them can't even afford the utilities and upkeep of them even after the State monies. Just food for thought.

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  16. Tim just remember Bradford, Missisinawa and Ansonia combined are not a big as Greenville the last time I checked.

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  17. To: Kurt Bluff
    "Really? Are property owners not the community? Are you to propose a sales tax that local corporations (including walmart, etc) will not have to chip in for? Property taxes suck, but they're the most realistic and economical way to raise money for the new school."
    Local corporations like walmart etc to chip in, the last time I looked Walmart reduced there taxes considerably by a law suit I believe, I dont think a sales tax is all that bad of an idea at all. It would generate more money overall than any of the corporations.

    Also arent we paying a levy for the upkeep of all the current schools, dont start with the schools being in that bad of shape, smoke and mirrors I believe, I've been in those schools.

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  18. When people get desperate the crime rate rises. You may think Greenville doesn't really have a high crime rate-get a scanner and you'll hear what happens in the dark. The more people are asked to cut back the more stress they feel and we all know what stress does to our lives.

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  19. Mr. Sneed,
    I don't know if you have attending any meetings. But, the facts have all been laid out. The second levy is necessary in order to get the State funds for the building. One has to come with the other. We do not have a choice but to vote for only one. It was not known that it would be put on the ballot this way. If you do the math, you will notice that both of the levies have been included in the upfront new taxes. It is not additional, its the way it's shown on the ballot.
    Get the facts, all of you naysayers.
    Vote yes.

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  20. Kim you are such a idiot. People have been trying to get the facts. They are upset because not all the facts have been laid out from the beginning. You are the same people that called people against Obama naysayers. Look at the crappy job he is doing. Why should anyone listen to you.
    I didn't vote for Obama!!!!
    Vote No!!!!!!

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  21. FYI. I did not vote for President Obama. Go to a meeting to get the facts. I am just saying that the new taxes are the same as proposed. I will not vote no. And, by the way, John, how rude. I am not an idiot.

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  22. Where is the money going from all the previous tax increases?

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