I totally support raising teacher salaries, but I will be voting no on the proposed mill levy for the following reasons. First, it will be a permanent increase on our property tax from here on out. Bonds have an expiration, but a mill levy does not.
Second, this is an additional 4.96 mill levy on our property. I know other property owners that believe it will make the total school mill levy 4.96. On our tax bill last year, the total net levy was 57.44780. Out of that amount, 21.591 was for the school system. Add an additional 4.96 on top of that! Where does it stop?
Third, the money raised from the increase in our property tax will be placed into the general fund and utilized at “the discretion of the board of education.” It will not go into a designated fund for those worthwhile projects mentioned on the ballot.
Fourth, I would like to know why the responsibility lies with property owners. Why not a sales tax, so everyone shares the responsibility? Do only property owners have children that attend these schools? I think not! What about retirees? This is an additional burden on their limited income.
And last, but certainly not least, why are non-property owners allowed to have a vote in raising our property taxes? It is very easy to vote for someone else to pay the bill! No person should be allowed to vote on raising our property taxes if they do not own property.
Jeanne Stiegelmeyer
Cortez
