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Writer supports kids but opposes tax increase to build new schoolPosted Friday, October 30, 2009, at 12:34 PM
From Dewey Hendrix
Marshall I would like to voice a small opinion about the school bond issue. First off I am for the kids but not the tax increases. The borrowing of stimulus money is a Catch-22 so to speak, first off we borrow back money we paid into the federal goverment cofers, at an interest rate still undermined as best I can tell from the different articles in the paper. Then we raise taxes on the local residents to pay back the loan -- again our own money. This at a time when we just had an increase in property taxes because an error was made by the assessor's office in the formula they were using. This will be extremely hard on our retired residents, plus others on fixed incomes, some already make choices of which to give up, medicine, food, and this is not fair to them. Most have paid their fair share and never complained a bit because of where it goes. And most will not complain now because its for a school, but they will give up things they shouldn't have to. Our property tax system for schools is outdated and an unfair system. There are to many multiple family homes in this county not paying any property taxes but their childern still need and get a good quality education from our school system. It is time our government repesentives take this to Jeff Ciy and change the laws so we can use sales taxes and then all will have to share in the expense, plus it will raise alot more money in the long run, a K-8 would not be out of the question if this money was available. Thanks for allowing me to voice my opinion. For the schools just not the taxes. Editor's note: This letter was published in The Marshall Democrat-News Friday, Oct. 30. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
New School?  - Archives - Blog RSS feed ![[Feed icon]](http://www.marshallnews.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon} - Comments RSS feed - Send email to Residents of Marshall School District - Login As the April 6 election approaches, voters in the Marshall Public School District will have much to say about the bond issue on the ballot and the proposed new elementary school the district will build if the issue is approved.
Anyone who is interested in the issue can contribute an entry to this blog. However, only signed commentary will be posted as blog entries, but any MDN website user can post comments on the entries, just like on any other blog.
We recommend community members use the Letter to the Editor form to submit their views on the issue. Commentary posted in this blog will also be published in the newspaper. We hope to see a wide range of views, with reasons given for positions taken, questions asked and concerns respectfully expressed.
Anyone wishing to read articles about the bond issue and facility problems it is intended to address may wish to visit www.marshallnews.com/topic/mpsdbond09.
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As this has now been brought up by two different people, let us clarify.
Property tax is paid by both multiple family homes -- renters (it's calculated by the owner into the monthly rent) and property owners.
Additionally, we will state once again that the reason the tax levy is not determined yet is because the amount of stimulus money available depends on how many school districts pass bond elections. It is a one-time source of funds.
We hope that Marshall is not one of the school districts that miss out on this opportunity. Please vote yes on November 3rd.
How can you folks expect us to vote on something which is going to raise our taxes without us knowing how much they will rise?
Tori,
What you are voting on is 80 cents. It will be less than that.
Because the ballot had to be submitted back in August, the tax rate on the ballot is listed at 80 cents. The stimulus money means that it will be less than 80 cents. We will know what the final amount is when all the school bond levy elections are completed -- next April.
I know that. I have attended most of the meetings. I have read every article printed in this paper. I have talked to district officials. I am not stupid. (How many times do I have to tell you that today?)
It could be 80¢, or it could be less at 79¢. Or a great thing could happen and it could be 40¢.
Big difference there. Someone who won't vote for it at 80¢ might vote for it at 40¢.
Tori,
Apologies if you took the comments as an insult. It was an attempt to clarify. If it helps, it is extremely unlikely that the rate would be 40 cents.
We would love to give you a hard number but until all the school bond elections are done.
Oops! That last sentence was incomplete. It should have read:
". . . but until all the school bond elections are done, that number is not available."
Multiple family residents do not pay as you stated citizens for school bond. If you have three familys living in one home rented to one person, the others do not pay. If you have a single mom or dad with two kids living with mom or dad or grandparents because of economic times they are not paying... And all bring expense to our school system.
A remark was made about the levy could not be set untill the bond passes..And that it had to be done by Aug to get on the ballot, slow down get all info out, hurry up cost you the last three elections for bonds. They show up one day with the news they are going for a bond and then its posted on the first ballot open hoping for a fast one over on the voters, sorry we are watching you.
The school board has no input on how the levy funds will be set. The amount set on the ballot would have been different from what the levy will be set at no matter how much front time was allowed because of how the federal stimulus funds are being distributed.
What happens is that there is a set amount of money for the entire state -- $44 million -- and it is shared among all the schools that pass a bond election. Some of them might not pass so there would be even more money to distribute. The final numbers won't released until next spring.
This is a one-time fund so if the Marshall school bond doesn't pass, the chance to get federal stimulus money is gone.
So once this all passes for the schools involved then the figures will be handed out to determine what will need to be charged to pay back the bond?
And the interest rate will also be established at this time? So it could be 0 percent or 20 percent no one knows right?
Yes, once the school bonds across the state are set, then the stimulus funds will be distributed in the form of low-interest or interest-free bonds.
The maximum will be 80 cents. It may be less but it will NOT be more.
It will not be 20% interest. The stimulus funds are low-interest and/or interest-free.
The bond consultant has stated that there has never been a better time for bonds.
After the elections are completed in Missouri, the Marshall school district will be informed about what they received and how it affects the 80 cents that was (hopefully) voted in.
drop555,
A clarification: it doesn't matter whether there are three families living in one household. As long as rent is paid, the landlord supports the taxes with property taxes. If the multiple families consist of one family who owns the property, they will pay the taxes.
The taxes will be paid, no matter how many people live there.
As for your grandchildren paying for the school, the government is going to give the stimulus money to schools. We'd like to see some of it come to our community, since we are all going to have to pay for it over time. Would you rather pay for something that belongs to the neighboring school district or pay for something that benefits us and our children?
The government will not give you anything, we are paying for it or you would not be asking for a tax increase..
And no all parties do not pay, if a landlord passes property taxes onto his renter, thats one family, if he does not know its dual or triple family he does not collect.
Actually, drop55, the renters are contributing to the property owner's tax obligation through rent no matter how many people live in the dwelling. More people only means the individual contribution is proportionally less, but cumulatively, the group does its bit. With property tax, people who own more, pay more. People who own less, pay less. But everyone who owns property pays the same *rate* and if they rent their property out, the manner in which they share that obligation with their renters is up to them.
You will continue to hold this opinion and that is why we have them, thats ok...But if you pay 1200 dollars per year on your home and in one of your examples there are three familys and each pays a third of a landlords taxes in the rent and his total is 1200 so each family pays 400 each year. Now you have no childern in the schools and each renter has 3 is this still fair, I am sorry but I do not think so..This is what I am against, we have a large population with no one in the school system but they are the big contributors. And we have a large population with lots of childern in the schools who are very small contributors.
Thanks for a good honest decent arugement.
Yes, thank you, too, drop55. In the best debates, both sides learn things from each other. I think I get your point better after you last comment.
It's an eternal dilemma for most public works, but maybe for schools especially. The most obvious benefit goes to families with school-age kids. It's the same with other infrastructure improvements. There have been those who oppose rebuilding the Eastwood bridges. I've heard it said: "I never go that way, why should my tax dollars be used to fix it?"
But I would argue that infrastructure improvements benefit the whole community (or state or nation) by helping support increased economic activity. Not everyone lives on an interstate highway, but everybody benefits -- at least to some small degree -- by the economic activity enabled by that vast transportation system. We all pay for it, but some get more direct benefit than others.
That's not to say that every infrastructure project is justified or well planned and executed. There's always room to debate the specific case. But I think if you only support what has immediate and direct benefit to you, you end up losing out on opportunities for the whole community.
Thank you also Eric for running these blogs, I see our community has alot of good hearted people, intellegent, open minded, we see that in these post...each and every opinion accepted and appreciated for its facts and merits, whether we agree or disagree it is imformative and educational.
PS. I use the Eastwood Bridge and have been looking forward to its reopening...
Thanks
Citizens - I truly appreciate your efforts to inform and educate the people that have questions, concerns, etc. regarding this issue. But I must say, after reading posts all through the buildup to this election - seems to me you're beating a dead horse! Again, thanks for your efforts, and thanks for teaching me some things I didn't know. I am voting yes, in spite of the dead horses out there that simply don't get it or refuse to do so!
well if we could get someone to attack the dead horse as you call it we might get somewhere, thanks for reading the blogs
I understand that if you don't have children you might not want to be "charged" for schools. But education and hope in the community brings so many benefits. A child that has hope and feels worthwhile is less likely to turn to crime and drugs. A child who feels that he has had an opportunity will stay in the community and bring more revenue for all businesses. This ultimately will help everyone - there will be more services (not to mention more eduacated people doing those services). People who feel looked after will be more likely to give back when you might need the help! I care for you therefore you care for me. I have no problem - knowing the nature of how some children live in this community - to give them a clean, well-lit, place for them to go and get a big dose of hope that the world cares about them. "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren that you do unto me." I do not have much money myself and worry about how I will always pay for things. But I also know there are many worse off than I am and I want to help them in the small ways that I can. I know that there is always a way and I will survive this small increase. That is why I reason that this does not just benefit those with children but ultimately all of us.