Wow, all this after I've warned my friends (for years, now) that that "tobacco settlement" money may look like free money, but it's not. So now the price of continuing this so-called building project (which includes tearing down my alma mater Start HS -- give me a break, there's no rational reason to tear the entire building down) is going on. And in the usual Toledo fashion, the people are getting sucked in for even more expense.
Enjoy your new schools, as well as all the new taxes that the politicians will use fear to raise in order to maintain these expensive things. Here's a clue: even if you're GIVEN a BMW, you may not be able to afford to maintain it.
Duh, duh, DUH.
For my next trick, I predict some fraction of the new levy will be used to pay for administrators and teachers. I smell another $2000/administrator bonus in the works, don't you? Of course, it will take the Blade about 12 to 18 months to expose all this.
posted by Guest at 05:40 P.M. EST on Sun Jan 30, 2005 #
Unbelievable.
TPS never seems to have enough money. I swear, you could give TPS the equivalent of $50,000 per student per year, and within 2 years THAT still would not be enough.
No offense to anyone, but its not like TPS has a sterling academic reputation either....
Inevitably, they will come out with "oh we may have to cut the extra-curricular activities, sports, arts, etc. Once they get whatever millage they want passed there will be a big "Thank you Toledo voters - this should keep us financially solvent for years to come"
segment on the 11 o'clock news.
One year later, there will be yet another financial "crises"...
Unbelievable.
posted by Guest at 01:17 P.M. EST on Mon Jan 31, 2005 #
I purchased my home in the fall of 1997 and at the time the property tax was $394.00 every six months. Today my property tax bill is $565.00 every six months. That comes out to $94.00 a month, more than I spend on any one utility bill. The house that I am paying almost $100.00 a month in property taxes on is no mansion. It’s a modest two bedroom home on a 45’ lot and it needs work. Does TPS realize that property taxes can only be increased so much until the taxes drive people out of the city?
posted by mike2004 at 08:11 A.M. EST on Tue Feb 01, 2005 #
Here we go again...
Why is it always a property tax? Why not tax EVERYONE, as in a sales tax? That way everyone that spends pays. The folks on limited incomes will be less impacted than those that can better afford (those with more money than brains) it. And, a sales tax taxes ALL spending, including the $$$ from the "underground economy."
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 08:49 A.M. EST on Tue Feb 01, 2005 #
A sales tax, an income tax, almost anything would be better than the property tax system. The property tax system might not even be so bad if for example the first $50,000.00 of a homes value was exempted from it. The property tax system, as it is now, many times forces senior citizens out of homes they have owned for 40 or 50 years. The original idea behind property taxes was that people who owned their home didn’t have to pay rent so they should have to pay property taxes as a way to tax the rent income they realized by owning the house. In my case I might be able to rent my house out at $500.00 a month so I am in essence paying a 20% tax on that supposed income.
posted by mike2004 at 11:49 P.M. EST on Wed Feb 02, 2005 #
My grandparents often say they don't own their home, since they seem to be renting it from the county. Their yearly property-tax bill is now $1800. Mike2004 had it right. The property-tax scheme seems designed to toss old folks out of their homes.
Did anyone else catch that article in the Thu or Fri Blade, about O-I's property tax problem? Yes, it seems that O-I is simply paying the property tax on Seagate Center that they think they owe, not what they actually owe (which, naturally, is a higher number). Just like Alice "Drive Off" Resnick, I think the rest of us should do the same and just do whatever we want ... instead of sending in about $1800 for your alleged $120K home, just send in $900 the next year since you "think" your home is really only $60K. O-I thinks its $55M tower is only worth $30M? Fair enough. But let's be REALLY fair about it, shall we?
(Personal Note: I do happen to think Toledo's home prices are at least 50% higher than they should be. There simply isn't enough economic activity to justify the prices. Therefore, I'm extremely glad that interest rates are rising. All this low-rates crap fueled an incredible boom in pricing that was so insane that it could only qualify as speculation. Of course, as in any boom, somebody's gotta lose, and the losers are the ones who bought and held assets on the upswing.)
Onward to other topics ... Dear Hooda:
Please don't suggest an income tax. Ohio's full to the brim with additive and temporary taxes. If Toledo invokes another tax, it will truly be ANOTHER tax. It will NOT replace property taxes. Heck, they'll even call it "temporary" just to lull you into voting for it. It'll be permanent, of course, but somehow that point never sinks into the public skull.
Consider Taft's jaw-dropping proposal to remove public involvement in school levies. You have to hand it to the Republicans ... they are honestly elitist, and don't hide their contempt of the public (as the Democrats do). Here the Ohio Master Race in Columbus is gearing up to remove the common man from controlling his public expenditure. They're doing it quite openly, and if Taft's words are any indication, they are also doing it PROUDLY. So be sure to show up on the magic election day (prediction: it will be an off election day, probably held in April or August, when turnouts are historically low) and vote away your right to vote on school funding. The Master Race knows best! We wouldn't dare risk being labelled "obstructionist", either, oh no.
Man, now I'm really upset. I'll stop now before I say something rash.
posted by Guest at 03:11 A.M. EST on Sun Feb 06, 2005 #
Despite all of the anti-tax feelings expressed, it is clear that TPS really is in need of more money.
If they don't get "new" money soon, not just a renewal, I predict a new series of elementary schools being closed before they get rebuilt.
This will give the district some effeciency of size but create a poor educational environment for the little ones.
More young teachers will be let go. They will never come back.
As the older teachers retire, there will be nobody to replace them and large raised will have to be given to attract new teachers.
Where will the money come from for these raises, another levy.
If one gets passed this spring or fall for new money, the district can deal with some of the larger problem without haveing to watch everry penny.
posted by Guest at 10:05 A.M. EST on Sun Feb 06, 2005 #
Toledo is losing population. Hence, schools will need to be closed to compensate. And we have plenty of excess real estate as it is. You haven't made any point whatsoever about justifying even MORE money for the TPS. Those administrators commonly pull in over $90K per year. If anything needs to change TPS's fiscal picture, cutting those salaries will have to be the start.
I've got my "NO" vote all set for the next levy vote. I'll gladly bankrupt them for their failure to control their costs. It's entirely my right and I WILL exercise it.
posted by Guest at 06:43 P.M. EST on Sun Feb 06, 2005 #
"The Toledo Board of Education Tuesday morning [Feb 15] will consider whether to ask voters for approval of a permanent improvement levy on the May ballot. The 2.5-mill levy, which generates about $5 million a year, dates to 1985 and has been renewed every five years since then."
posted by jr at 01:37 A.M. EST on Sun Feb 13, 2005 #
"The Toledo Public School Board has approved placing on the May ballot a 2.5 mil replacement capital improvement levy. Superintendent Eugene Sanders says it'll help the district maintain current school buildings and assist the new school construction project, by making sure new schools being built feature brick construction and sloped roofs."
May is the first attempt. It will probably fail. Then it will show up in August. Fail again. Then it will be on the November ballot, preceded by a crapload of gloom and doom, scare tactics.
Has one new school building been built yet? Whatever. I can't believe TPS is already asking for money to "assist" in the new project. What the hell?
In November 2002, Toledoans passed that huge-ass building levy that included money from the state to build 55 new schools in Toledo. And TPS already needs assistance?
I knew TPS would be asking for additional money someday to help build all 55 schools, but I didn't expect it so soon.
posted by jr at 01:07 P.M. EST on Tue Feb 15, 2005 #
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