New Castle News
May 16, 2008 10:40 am
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Editor, The News:
In regard to the article “Neshannock plans to increase taxes” appearing in The News May 10, I have to say what a surprise (sarcasm).
It took little more than a week for the Neshannock school board to grab up our pittance of a tax break from the slot machine revenue that has been touted as the answer to all of our property tax problems.
In the article, the superintendent states, “For the next five years, we have to raise taxes within the index to keep the budget balanced.” This statement is a prime example of what is wrong with a system in which the taxpayers have no control over school spending.
I would like to suggest a revolutionary concept that we taxpayers must live by — that is set your budget based on your income. The superintendent’s statement also indicates that they already have the game figured out — keep tax increases within the index so that they do not have to be put on the ballot and taxpayers will continue to have no say in the matter.
At the end of the article, the superintendent says that in regard to the budget, “We had to look at what is a need and what is a want.” By whose definition is artificial turf on a high school football field a need? Especially when research indicates such turf may be hazardous to the athletes’ health.
The old saying of “not spending for a Cadillac when a Chevrolet will do the job” has been changed here in Neshannock to “why settle for a Cadillac when you can buy a Rolls Royce.”
Bill Adamson
Neshannock Township
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