To the editor
In last week’s Beacon, Barbara Parker referenced the March 4th school budget meeting and how hard it was for her to listen to a woman who lives on Powelson Drive ask the board for a flat budget since her family didn’t receive an equivalent raise in pay.
Ms. Parker also mentions the resident was one of the "affluent homeowners of the Country Classics community" and went on to talk about the increase in her real estate value. This is certainly not a comparison of apples to apples and what does one have to do with the other?
Ms. Parker also referenced a newspaper advertisement for the Country Classics development that praised the communities’ school system as a key component to buying a Country Classics home. Should we believe everything we read? I’m still waiting for the Publishers Clearing House van to pull up to my front door to receive the millions I won or to lose those unwanted stubborn 10 pounds from those fat burning vitamins I purchased last year. Oh, the power of advertisement!
The majority of people in Country Classics are hard working dollar smart-two salaried households who made a wise decision in purchasing their homes prior to the huge real estate boom. Yes, the value of our homes has risen but with that increase in home assessment value came an increase in real estate taxes. Our monthly expenses are now higher and our personal income remains the same or even less. It’s that simple!
I could bet my bottom dollar that Ms. Parker’s home value increased the same percentage rate as mine but does this make her richer after all the bills are paid at the end of the month? She fails to mention how high her taxes are like all the others before her who speak in favor of this increased budget.
I receive the same municipal services as the next person, have one child in the school system and pay almost $12,000 per year in real estate taxes. I strongly oppose the proposed school budget and urge my fellow Country Classics neighbors and all who are carrying the higher tax burden to get out and vote the same.
I can speak for myself and my immediate neighbors that we can’t afford any more tax increases just because we reside in Country Classics. Dr. Michael Munley isn’t flawed when he suggests people are selling their homes due to the high taxes and the current economy.
If a "for sale" sign is placed on my front lawn it’s not because I’m taking my increased home value and running, it’s because I can’t afford to live here anymore.
We need to ask ourselves how much of the proposed budget would really benefit the education of our children and is it really worth the tax burden of all just to benefit the few. Am I willing to sacrifice my daughter’s $50 per month ballet class so Bob Smith’s child can play on artificial turf or a hockey team? Certainly not.
The quality of education for our children will not be jeopardized if the budget is rejected and that is the bottom line. Our hard working teachers who we adore will still receive their contractual raises whether the budget is approved or not. For the school board to even suggest implementing any programs that are not mandatory is almost as insulting as Ms. Parker’s insinuation that our community is wealthy and we can afford the higher tax increase.
I’ll wait until next year or the year after for my new sofa and backyard landscaping. Perhaps the school board should wait for another year or two to propose the so-called cost effective hockey team and artificial grass. Now that’s comparing apples to apples.
Country Classics