I'm actually more liberal than most here on education issues(My coaching experience), and I'm not adverse to a millage or local tax increase IF the school administrators are conducting themselves in a responsible and professional matter. That has not been the case in Howell.
I'm voting NO for several reasons if this goes on the ballot(which I expect).
1. This would be the third millage (or revenue enhancement) I would be voting on since moving to Howell. I remember two the entire time I voted in the Brighton school district. A bond issue for a new high school, and a "Headlee Override" to non homesteads. Now this. For those who are out of state and do not understand the terms, I'll make it simple. "Revenue Enhancement" aka Tax increases.
2. The rainbow flag debacle. The administrators gave us a political smokescreen and extreme arrogance. There's been several stories posted on that here at FR.
3. Salary increases. The School board right after the filing deadline of the last election raised the admin salaries....while asking for the Headlee Override. The Headlee override failed the first time. The Admins and Board members called us ignorant and said we did not understand what it was. It passed the 2nd time...in August or September...with low turnout.
4. Bad budgeting. We ALL knew the state was in a budget crunch and has been for at least the last three years. Lansing can not be counted on, and should not have been. Schools need to be prepared for that. Lansing deserves SOME blame. Not ALL of it. $11 million defecit for one school district? That's unacceptable.
It's time to draw the line in the sand and to make the tough decisions. Good education can be given on leaner budgets.
Now they want more of our tax money.
It's time to draw the line in the sand and to make the tough decisions. Good education can be given on leaner budgets
I agree with you. In Washington State schools "survive" (school term) on levies. They make the claim that the state doesn't adequately fund them. My complaint is that the schools develop more and more programs on their own besides what the state dictates and then they claim that they aren't adequately funded. Levies here, have been here for as long as I can remember and that is over 50 years. Once a millage or levy is adopted you might as well figure it is permanent. If a person likes paying taxes, they'll fall in love with levies. Here we have a 60% necessary to pass requirement. I am sure that this will be voted out in the near future but for the time being it does have a certain amount of power in requiring schools to be accountable.
I live in SE Michigan. Prior to the Headlee Amendment I was getting hit with 15 to 20 per cent annual increases due to the township increasing my assessed value. As you are aware, Headlee limited my actual tax increases to 5 per cent or the increase in CPI, whichever was lower. The last few years those increases have been about 2.7 percent per year.
Passing the Headlee Amendment is one of the smartest things Michigan residents have ever done.