Red Lion tax increase
THE RED LION AREA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS RECENTLY APPROVED A 4.5 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET INCREASE IN THIER OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE 2008 - 2009 SCHOOL YEAR WHICH RESULTS IN AN INCREASE TAX RATE TO 20.44 MILS UP $175 FROM LAST YEAR TO A $2,044 TAX BILL THIS YEAR FOR A PROPERTY ASSESSED AT $100.000
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THEY STATED THE INCREASE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO UTILITIES STAFFING NEEDS AND STAFF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
YOU WOULD THINK THAT IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES THEY WOULD HAVE THE DECENCY TO INFORM THE TAXPAYERS THAT THEY WOULD NOT INCREASE THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR BUT RATHER DO AS MANY OF US HAVE HAD TO DO
DECREASE THE HEATING THERMOSTATS IN WINTER
INCREASE THE COOLING THEMOSTATS IN SUMMER
REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY TURNING OFF LIGHTS OR REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHTING AND ANY OTHER MEASURE TO REDUCE ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION, WHAT WAS THIER NET REDUCTION IN USAGE LAST YEAR ??
REGARDING STAFFING
DO NOT FILL VACANCIES THIS YEAR CONSOLIDATE RESPONSIBILITES AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY
PAY ADJUSTMENTS SHOULD COINSIDE WITH THE LEVEL OF SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASES FOR ELDERLY AMERICANS AND EQUAL THE INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE
IN MY OPINION THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS PUSHED US TO THE BREAKING POINT
WE CAN NOT LET THIS CONTINUE WE MUST UNITE AND LET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT KNOW ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, I WILL NOT PAY THE INCREASE THIS YEAR BUT PAY WHAT THE TAX WAS LAST YEAR AND LET THEM DO WHAT THEY MAY REGARDING THE INCREASE
IF WE ALL TAKE THIS APPROACH WE CAN BE HEARD AND WE CAN AFFECT CHANGE
GEORGE DOBSON
RED LION
