To the editor:
As a Shawano resident, I have some observations about the Nov. 3 property tax increase referendum, and I’ll tell you why my overall conclusion is to vote no.
Where does the money come from to pay for these renovations? Well, the district only looks to one source – the taxpayers. When I suggested applying for grants (Shawano Area Community Foundation) or private funding (Crawford, Egan, Pevonka), I was told by officials, “Oh, we can’t do that.” In other words, they don’t want to, and they just want to let the taxpayers pay for it.
How about teaching our students that we need to save money for what we want? Could we let them be creative with fundraisers? Could the athletic clubs take charge paying for the revamping of the locker rooms, as they did for the football and soccer fields?
Some district officials I’ve spoken with have stated that when they consider all of the expensive updates proposed for the middle school, they would have made more restrained financial decisions for the construction of Hillcrest Primary School, but, unfortunately, they weren’t in a position of authority then. Well, they are in charge now and should protect Shawano taxpayers from higher property taxes and millions of dollars of new debt by opposing this referendum now.
The bottom line, however, is that the taxpayers don’t have the money right now. Our district average per capita income is only $23,500, and they won’t be getting an automatic 2 percent raise like the district employees. Social Security benefits aren’t increasing, while insurance premiums are going up.
Passing the proposed $14 million property tax increase referendum — which includes the construction costs, plus interest costs — will hurt those without flexible budgets. This means that some will have to make a choice between paying their property tax bills and cutting back on the cost of dental and medical care, food or the other necessities.
This affects the whole community. Higher taxes do not help the community.
This referendum will bring our debt total to $43,376,294. I encourage taxpayers to vote no on the $14 million property tax increase referendum on the ballot Nov. 3.
Carol Westphal,
Shawano
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