Post by LP Truther on Feb 24, 2010 20:36:04 GMT -5
Guess it is time to get things rolling on the bond issue in May!
The school board officially approved the ballot issue for a new school building for Loudonville-Perrysville School District during the Feb meeting. The first question for most residents is how much would this cost me? There in lies the problem; the board has still not addressed/decided the official payment schedule. Verbally, the treasurer has confirmed that the payment schedule should be equal payments; roughly $247 per $100,000 value on your primary residence of 1 acre with no outbuildings. While this description hardly applies to anyone, it is the best that can be expressed at this time.
It is obviously too late in the game to question why the board believes this is the best option. The question to voters is if one new large building located in Loudonville is the best option for the district at this time. That question will be answered by voters in May. Here are some thought provoking questions for residents to consider before making a decision.
How can all the current buildings built in different years be in such bad shape that it is justified to tear them all down? Supposedly, part of the support for a new building is to reduce costs, why then would the district continue to pay for two inefficient non-educational buildings, one a gym and the other administration offices? With declining enrollment and smaller families, does it make sense to build new instead of looking to add onto an existing building and close the least efficient? Does it make sense to guarantee a loan for 38 years when the building life is only 50 years? If the bond passes, L-P becomes the 5th highest in property tax millage from 4 surrounding counties, is that really an attraction to businesses and land owners? If the bond were to pass, L-P would have the highest property tax rate with an income tax in the surround counties, again is that attractive to businesses and land owners? Since the school has made no levy concessions or contingencies upon passage of a bond issue, what hard savings is passed onto the residents? How does spending 36 million save the taxpayer over continuing to maintain current buildings? Will Perrysville Village raise their income tax on residents to offset the lost revenue from school employees? Are the Perrysville School employees aware that Loudonville Village has a ¾% higher income tax? Are the school employees aware and willing to support a bond issue with the expected staff cuts? Supposedly a new building project will help put local workers and businesses to work, is their a provision in the contract that local contractors/materials must be used? Is the board willing to stand behind their statement of local jobs being sustained/created in writing?
These and many more questions need to be addressed by each individual using a common sense approach. A bond issue is a guarantee that the community pledges to payback the bondholders. That means residents risk losing their property if they cannot pay their property tax bill, which the school is the largest portion.
Remember, even if you feel that you cannot publicly voice your opinion without reprisal; the voting booths provide privacy and each resident has the RIGHT to vote as they see fit on May 4th!
The school board officially approved the ballot issue for a new school building for Loudonville-Perrysville School District during the Feb meeting. The first question for most residents is how much would this cost me? There in lies the problem; the board has still not addressed/decided the official payment schedule. Verbally, the treasurer has confirmed that the payment schedule should be equal payments; roughly $247 per $100,000 value on your primary residence of 1 acre with no outbuildings. While this description hardly applies to anyone, it is the best that can be expressed at this time.
It is obviously too late in the game to question why the board believes this is the best option. The question to voters is if one new large building located in Loudonville is the best option for the district at this time. That question will be answered by voters in May. Here are some thought provoking questions for residents to consider before making a decision.
How can all the current buildings built in different years be in such bad shape that it is justified to tear them all down? Supposedly, part of the support for a new building is to reduce costs, why then would the district continue to pay for two inefficient non-educational buildings, one a gym and the other administration offices? With declining enrollment and smaller families, does it make sense to build new instead of looking to add onto an existing building and close the least efficient? Does it make sense to guarantee a loan for 38 years when the building life is only 50 years? If the bond passes, L-P becomes the 5th highest in property tax millage from 4 surrounding counties, is that really an attraction to businesses and land owners? If the bond were to pass, L-P would have the highest property tax rate with an income tax in the surround counties, again is that attractive to businesses and land owners? Since the school has made no levy concessions or contingencies upon passage of a bond issue, what hard savings is passed onto the residents? How does spending 36 million save the taxpayer over continuing to maintain current buildings? Will Perrysville Village raise their income tax on residents to offset the lost revenue from school employees? Are the Perrysville School employees aware that Loudonville Village has a ¾% higher income tax? Are the school employees aware and willing to support a bond issue with the expected staff cuts? Supposedly a new building project will help put local workers and businesses to work, is their a provision in the contract that local contractors/materials must be used? Is the board willing to stand behind their statement of local jobs being sustained/created in writing?
These and many more questions need to be addressed by each individual using a common sense approach. A bond issue is a guarantee that the community pledges to payback the bondholders. That means residents risk losing their property if they cannot pay their property tax bill, which the school is the largest portion.
Remember, even if you feel that you cannot publicly voice your opinion without reprisal; the voting booths provide privacy and each resident has the RIGHT to vote as they see fit on May 4th!
