Dear Editor,
I thank the Mill Levy Committee for their long answer to my repeated questions about how the School District determined the requested annual $276,000 Mill Levy increase and for what it is planning to spend it.
The answer to the first part is not completely convincing, but I will leave it at that.
However, the answer to the second question finally tells us what the requested Mill Levy increase is really about. The Mancos Mill Levy Co Chair Committee stated: Any increase in funds for the current budget year will be used for two things to improve current teacher salaries, and to cover the anticipated increase in healthcare costs the district is expecting in January 2013. Once a commitment for increased salaries and health care cost in 2013 will be made, it is obvious, that this money is already earmarked accordingly for the seven year period of the requested increase.
Our Kids, - Our School Our Responsibility sounds very nice as a slogan, but is utterly deceiving when the plan is to spend all the requested money for the teachers!
Over the last four years, the average annual income nationwide dropped by $4,000 while healthcare cost have been rising at a considerably higher than inflation rate for almost everybody. Taking that into account, it is just not the time to increase the salaries of well-paid teachers and further financially support their benefits, which already far exceed those of non-government employees.
In this economically depressed time, we all have to live within our means and if necessary have to tighten our belts. None of us ordinary taxpayers can just go around and ask our neighbors to give us some money so we can spend more. A NO to the requested Mill Levy increase is the right answer.
Respectfully submitted
Eckhard D. Stuart
