Posted on 05/01/2005 8:08:12 PM PDT by Born Conservative
GRANTVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell ratcheted up the pressure on school boards to sign on to a $1 billion property-tax reduction program, saying state lawmakers might otherwise make the program mandatory.
School boards, which have until the end of May to opt in, have been slow to participate. In exchange for the future slots revenues, they must raise local income taxes and seek voter approval for future property-tax increases that exceed inflation.
"We may mandate it, there's so much anger in the Legislature. We may mandate it without some of the exceptions that are worked in, and that would be a disaster," Rendell said Saturday at a meeting of the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
Rendell said he had heard that Democratic legislators will introduce a bill on Monday that would force school boards to participate in Act 72.
"Obviously, I think something has to be done," Rendell said. "What is most vexing and frustrating to me is I am in favor of some limitations."
As of Thursday, only 10 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts had chosen to participate in the program, a Pennsylvania School Board Association spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court is reviewing a challenge to the act that alleges that lawmakers violated their own rules in passing the slots law last year.
Don't get excited, you should see the paperwork you need to fill out to get $300 back from your already horrendous school taxes that you have paid, it's not worth it. This was a hoax sold to the taxpayers, people thought they would get REAL tax relief.
ping
The one good thing about it is a referendum requirement for tax hikes but basically it's a ploy to get slots for Rendell's buddies.
the costs of public education is killing taxpayers everywhere. on long island, tenured teachers are making $100K and retiring with 90% pensions - and they still get salary increases that exceed inflation year after year, property tax increases here are almost always 3x the inflation rate.
IIRC, the lawmakers were allowed a cut of the action from gambling revenues.
If it is such a good deal, why do they have to engage in arm-twisting? Of course we know the answer - Fast Eddie trying to pull another fast one on us.
ping
I thought voluntary meant that you had a choice? Sounds like a bad war movie with the Nazis saying "sign ze papers, old man..."
I see that the public school / government complex has moved into stage II now - step one was to fund themselves into complete control of local school systems. Having accepted the money and the strings that go with it, locals have the nerve to be surprised at their enslavement.
Can they sell the concept that you should gamble "for the children"? In my state they tried to soothe their consciences by diverting some tobacco settlement money to fund school programs. Now if I'm accosted by anti-smoking zealots, I say that now I have to smoke "for the children". They're trying to open a local casino and are dangling the same bait - part of the money will go to schools. How many vices must I engage in so that kids can get educated?
If they get money from gambling, they will not need money from anywhere else.
And he can say how EVERYONE chose to participate........it will be an overwhelming vote of approval for him............
Wish someone could tell me why my taxes in Texas are higher than they were in Bucks County yet teachers here average $40,000 a year............
Pennsylvanians will never get REAL property tax relief as long as we keep electing the same crooks into office year after year. And if the GOP decides on running Lynn Swan as their gubinatorial candidate, I swear i'm through with them. People need to quit voting party lines and start electing people based on character and convictions. I'll be sure to vote Constitution Party this november. They seem to be the only party in PA that cares. (BTW, they're having a meeting this May 7th!)
>>>> $1 billion property-tax reduction program,<<<<
Yet
>>>> they must raise local income taxes and seek voter approval for future property-tax increases <<<<<
Must be 1984
WTF is wrong with Lynn Swann? I'd say you're right about the 'same crooks,' but how is Swanny one of that crowd?
And could you be more obtuse? I mean, vote for the Constitution party? Puh-LEEZE. I might send a message with an occasional Libertarian vote, but Howard Phillips' boys are nuttier than any blue man the LP can put up.
It's not the teacher's pay that's killing us, its the Administration!
Check your districts website, they should have salary listings for just about everyone. The pay for pencil-pushers is outrageous, and the Superintendents and upper echelon administrator's salaries sometimes aren't even listed.
(Google search results:)
Illinois- the average salary for all superintendents is $109,228.
WISCONSIN - By the 2003-'04 school year, the superintendent's pay had risen to about $115,000, while the average Hartford teacher took in a little less than $44,000.
Connecticut- and in many areas assistant superintendents are earning $150,000 to $200,000.
Nationwide- (Council of the Great City Schools report) The average salary for superintendents of school districts with 25000 or more students in 2003 is estimated at $170,024
The red counties on PA need to secede with the red counties in NYS to form a new state. Otherwise we'll keep getting screwed by the blue bits.
One more reason to end government-run schools.
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