School Boards May Soon Get Authority To Raise Taxes (N.C.)

www.wral.com ^ | March 7, 2005

[Howlin]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Some people believe that since school board members know the needs of their school districts, they should have the power to raise taxes to fund those needs. That idea is gaining some support in the state.

When Wake County school board members chose the DuBois Center for a temporary elementary school site, they found opposition among parents and county commissioners who control the school system's purse strings.

[Howlin]

The school board has no way to raise any of their own revenue, so if there's something they think needs to be done, they have to do the another elected body in order to basically get approval to do it," said Leanne Winner, of the North Carolina School Boards Association.

[Howlin]

Brother.

[Still Thinking]

No elected (or appointed) official should have the authority to raise taxes without a vote (preferably supermajority) of the public as well.

[glock rocks]

So, like the legislature, the administrators can effect their own raises. Lovely. Taxes can go up, and devil knows if the kids have new books to read. Multilevel marketing at its finest.

This won't hurt a bit, did it?

[pipecorp]

Of all the stupida#%$ %$%$$^&&&@!$% ^%^&*&* $^%$$#%%$^ (&*$#%$& ^%^%&@#@*%^* ! Who the %$^&&* *^^%!@(^%%$#^ would give a school board this kind of power? America can't be this stupid, can it?

[printhead]

Sounds like the tarheels need to break out the tar and feathers.

[Howlin]

Why do the words "self-fulfilling" keep coming into my mind?

[thoughtomator]

Hmmm... taxation sounds like a good way to raise MY revenue too.

[Howlin]

I will promptly submit a bill to the N.C. Legislature.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Put a tax on stupid ideas, and they would be rolling in money.

[doctor noe]

I can guarantee you that if our school board (Long Beach Unified - CA) had the ability to raise taxes on a whim, they would do it. As it is, the voters usually succumb to all the BS emotional arguments whenever a measure appears on the ballot.

[w6ai5q37b]

school board members know the needs of their school districts

Let's see what those needs are...

1. Raise taxes so that we can hire more bureaucrats and build more pretty buildings

2. Brainwash the children with homosexual, environmental extremist, atheistic propaganda

[csmusaret]

That's the way it's done in a lot of places. If they can't get the job done with the budget they approve, don't re-elect them. Right now they point fingers at the County Commissioners who point fingers at the school board. This is actually a better way to fund schools. It doesn't have to mean higher taxes.

[drt1]

"They are the experts in the public policy area and they know what's needed for the children," Winner said.

Oh man! What a crock. Please, not more 'Experts' on Education Policy - The scores are already too low and falling.

[Republicus2001]

Hey I say if the school board can raise taxes - then I declare I have the power to lower them

[PeterFinn]

Hope the good people of North Carolina like being poor because they're going to find out what that's like real soon.

[VermiciousKnid]

Here on Long Island, our school boards have the de facto right to raise taxes.

Here's how they do it:

1) Propose inflated budget that boggles the mind.
2) Send kiddies home with frightening letters telling parents what awful things will happen if said budget is not passed. Include photos of nearest inner city schoolhouse with the obligatory "classroom in the janitor's closet."
3) Make sure the school budget is not scheduled to be voted on ANYWHERE NEAR Election Day -- in fact, make it in May, so they can get about half of the high school seniors who have turned 18 in the past year to come out and vote for it. (NOTE: Make sure to properly marinate the minds of said high school seniors so that they believe that not passing the budget would cause their soon-to-be-alma maters to literally be sucked into the bowels of Hell.)
4) If the vote does not pass, well then....just have another vote in June, when even FEWER people will be around! Make sure you change the proposal by NOT ONE SINGLE CENT. Repeat until budget is passed.
5) After accomplishing the "voting process," the citizens of your school district will be getting a nice, happy, friendly letter informing them of how much more their property taxes will be for the next year.
6) Repeat annually.

Et voila! A brand-spanking-new tax increase, brought to you by your local school district!

Regards,

[PeterFinn]

"It's for the children!!!!"

Sh*t. You could kill Jews all day long in San Francisco if you told the imbeciles there that it was (sniff!) 'for the children!'

And, of course, you'll be accused of HATING children and being MEAN SPIRITED unless you support giving your very last dime to the teacher's union.

[bd476]

This is not good. Who will oversee their spending when they are not yet completely held accountable for their work product, that is, so-called public education?

Also, hopefully the highlighted text below is a misquote and not indicative of N.C. School Boards Association member Ms. Winner's education.

"The school board has no way to raise any of their own revenue, so if there's something they think needs to be done, they have to do the another elected body in order to basically get approval to do it," said Leanne Winner, of the North Carolina School Boards Association.

[Viking2002]

School Boards May Soon Get Authority To Raise Taxes

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?No. No. Nonononononononono...........!