Taxpayer Monies Could Be Used To Explain Impact Of Failed Levy
Alternative content
SWCS Taxpayer Monies
Should a city pay to promote its school-district tax?
NBC 4
BOTH SIDES: NBC 4 talks to city leaders and residents about a proposal to use taxpayer money to educate citizens about the impact of a failed levy in the South-Western City Schools district.
GROVE CITY, Ohio—City leaders in Grove City are considering spending about $20,000 in taxpayer money to send out educational information regarding the South-Western City Schools levy.
A school district has been pleading for a levy passage while a hometown fears failure would mean a loss of jobs and income tax revenue and falling property values.
The South-Western City School District voted to go back to voters in August, asking for the same 8.3-mill operating levy that was voted down in May.
There is a proposal to use taxpayer money to educate citizens about the impact of a failed levy in the South-Western City Schools district.
Should a city pay to promote its school district’s tax, though?
NBC 4’s Ana Jackson talked to residents and officials and got BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.
More district cuts would mean a big blow to Grove City, according to Don Walters, business and community relations officer for the city.
“That impact on the city would be phenomenal, financially, because those employees pay income taxes,” Walter said.
Walters said South-Western City Schools is the largest employer in Grove City, and the first round of cuts already has cost the city about $100,000 a year in income-tax revenue.
City leaders have been considering a proposal to spend $10,000 to $20,000 taxpayer dollars to educate citizens about the economic impact of a failed levy, Walters said.
The monies would come from the city’s advertising budget, and the city would do the same for any big business in crisis.
Resident Nancy Smith said she’s OK with the expenditure.
“I care about the kids. I care about the people in my neighborhood. I care about my property values, and if we don’t start supporting schools, we’re all going to be very disappointed,” Smith said.
Resident Terry Jones, however, was outraged about the proposal. Jones is the president of South-Western Alternatives to Taxes, a political-action committee that opposes the ballot issue.
“I think it’s an inappropriation of taxpayers’ money. Why? Because they’re taking sides with one side of the community against the other part,” Jones said.
“It’s really still very fair in that all we’re doing is explaining. We’re not telling anybody to go vote Issue 2,” Walters said.
Jackson spoke to a member of the Grove City council who said the proposal still is new and nothing would be decided outside of regularly scheduled council meetings.
The next city council meeting was set for Monday, June 15.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at
.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
And personal income is pertinant to the dicussion-taxpayers are out of money.I realize that this is a difficult concept to those of you that have guaranteed wages,but you are going to have to deal with this FACT eventually.Either now or when you come back to an even more decimated community with future levy requests.You “haves"live off our money-that we earn!All of us un and under-educated drones pay your salary!
The common denominator in all of the “family” issues you describe is poverty.The CEOs that whose wages you cite will eventually see their pay decrease as well,due to consumers no longer being able to consume.
Many of us that find our wages decreased or jobs lost were educated in our chosen field as well.If teachers/administrators want CEO pay-go private sector if you think you can.
The point is clear SWCS wants to deny the facts of the economy,the tax base that supports them is gone and the “best"is yet to come.
This levy is about wages-period!Hiding that fact behind extra curriculars and sports is completely dishonest.Call the argument weak,but it is what it is!
Let’s clarify something. $22,305 is the per capita income in Grove City. This isn’t relevant to any of these postings. Per capita income is what each man, woman and child would make if we took the total income and divided equally among everyone. You cannot compare what a teacher makes to this. It’s not an apples-to-apples or remotely fair comparison.
I’ll use Grove City examples because I can quickly find them and cannot easily locate west/sw Columbus. The median household income in 2000 (9 years ago) was $52,064 and median family income was $62,059. This median means half of the population earned more, and half earned less. This is a better comparison. Men earned about $40K and women about $30K.
Let’s remember that we live in a democracy, not a socialist society, and the pay for jobs is based on fair market value and what the employer is willing to pay based on market demand. SWCS teachers and administrators’ pay isn’t any higher than any other district. Laura, you complain about what these people make. Many of them have master’s degrees and all of them have college degrees. The market pays more for a college education. If these people worked in the private sector, they’d make significantly more. Do you think Dr. Wise lays awake at night because an M.D. who is also a doctor makes more than he does? His job choice was just that - a choice. He is a PhD, the leader of an organization with 21,000 students and hundreds of teachers. Do you know what a CEO of a similar sized company would make? Over a million dollars a year? Don’t believe me? Check out Business First’s list of CEO pay. The heads of the three major adult hospital systems all make between $600,000 and $900,000. These organizations are also designed to serve the greater good.
Every person in America has the right to go to college and live up to his or her fullest potential - it’s all a matter of how bad they want it. If you wanted to make what a teacher makes, you could have and still can if you choose to do so. So why are you complaining?
I’m married to a firefighter, also a public servant, and I can tell you that pay for these people is comparable to what teachers make, and it depends on their rank and seniority. The bottom line is we trust all of these public servants with the safety and well-being of our community and frankly they should be paid more for what they do.
Teachers have to deal with parents who don’t give a damn about their kids and look at the schools as babysitting services and don’t take an active role in helping their children succeed. They have parents who don’t care enough to show up at conferences - ever. They deal with immigrant children and parents new to this country who know nothing of our language and culture. They support special needs children whose needs far exceed those of non-disabled children. They deal with drug and alcohol problems in kids and their parents. They deal with theft, vandalism, truancy, teen pregnancy, often substandard working conditions, children who come to school without having had breakfast and have no money for lunch. They deal with homelessness kids, narcissistic kids whose focus is solely on themselves. They coach, they volunteer beyond the school day, they spend their own money on supplies because the district budget cuts preclude them from affording everything they need to do their jobs. They deal with students bringing weapons to school and threatening physical violence, sometimes forcing them into lockdown. They deal with contagious diseases as much, if not more than paramedics do. Yeah, they make too much for that. I guess we know where you value them in the hierarchy of public servants.
Lastly, our economy sucks - that’s something we can all agree on. But accusing the district of manipulation is such a weak claim. Again, you can’t point out specific examples, so it’s really not worth hearing these rants anymore.
I am at work, and will work as hard as I possibly can, so that my kids, your kids, you, your neighbors and everyone else in this district has the best possible quality of life we can give them given in unfortunate state of school funding in Ohio. Is it fair that I likely pay more in taxes than you? Sometimes I don’t think so but that’s part of living in a capitalistic society and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s sad and rather pathetic to see such weak arguments for something so important to every one of us. I’ve enjoyed hearing different perspectives, but now I’m off to support Issue 2.
Sorry Cinnamongirl,thought you were Vernon-who blamed me.Just explaining my position.I’d be proud too that my child excells as yours does.
Your child did this with the current pay levels that her/his teachers make.Vernon cited lack of education and dependence on manufacturing jobs that people should of psychically known were going to disappear.It should be noted that Ohio has lost thousands of technological jobs as well.
It is the state of the nation.If those with manufacturing jobs should have known,then teachers should have known that their tax base was going to decrease as well and made career changes accordingly.
When you are basically a government(tax payed)employee and there are limits to what you can expect as an income.I contend that their pay is excellent(benefits incl)and I totally take issue with the dishonest way that they’ve gone about trying to increase their pay in the face of almost 10% unemployment.Wages have been brought down in our country to almost third world nation standards when you factor in cost of living.Taxpayers can no longer purchase goods and services ,furthering unemployment.
Those fortunate enough to be untouched by this shift,fail to realize the implications economically of burdening the populace with higher taxes.
I see the ramifications everyday in my community.It doesn’t seem like much to those requesting this increase,but to people whose true wages have been lost,it can mean the difference between eating and keeping your home.
...a specific citing of my ARROGANCE?
First ... I never suggested that the no voters were responsible for teachers not doing their jobs, or for poor test scores.
Second… you say “you” like you think I’m a teacher. I’m not. The only link between me and the school system is the child I send to school every day. Who, by the way, does not run the streets, is 14th in her class, is an honor roll student, and whose OGT scores far surpassed the state, district, and school levels. Any arrogance on my part is pride in the child that I’m raising.
Third… I am part of that educated voting populace. I fervently believe that the costs long term far outweigh the short term. At least I can cite my position without making personal judgements and attacks on the people involved. I’ll thank you to do the same.
Simply because we disagree doesn’t make me arrogant.
I simply feel that teachers and administrators make enough.Alot more than the families of the children they teach.For actual hours worked they(teachers and administrators)make more than police and firefighters,but they aren’t putting their lives in harms way.There is nothing fair about that.
In this economic crisis SWCS needs to recognize that you don’t ask for raises when the company is bankrupt.You are payed quite well.
My issue is hiding what the money is truely requested for.The method of community manipulation,going so far as to send the children out to do their bidding for them,under the guise of sports and extra curriculars.
You’d like to think that the voting populace is uneducated,but quite frankly we are smart enough to see what you are doing and know it’s just plain wrong.In addition it’s arrogant and you all are self agrandizing.We see ourselves as your equals whether you do or not.We can’t get a raise when the company is broke and neither should you,especially when you already make considerably more than the average individual income in our district.
To recruit teachers that understand this principal would be of GREAT benefit to our district.Acknowledge who pays you.
Your position is clear when you try to blame me for SWCS poor scores on tests.Absolutely hilarious to suggest NO voters are responsible for teachers not doing their jobs!There’s a specific citing of your arrogance.
“Also,in those communities that pay more taxes for better schools have the tax base to support them.Our annual individual yearly income(in our district)is 22,500.How can you possibly expect these people to take on more?“
That is precisely why our focus needs to be on the STATE, not the district funding. Because it is unconstitutional that the communities with the higher tax base get better schools, and perpetuate this entire situation. It’s absolutely wrong that because I can’t afford to live in Dublin or Hilliard that my child gets a sub-par public education.
I don’t disagree with you that not many of us have extra money to just throw at the district. But I do disagree with your methods. You’re attacking the teachers (and after all of your posts that rant and rave at the teachers I have a really hard time believing that you don’t begrudge the school system and the wages) and hurting the kids.
We need to find a way to maintain the educational base of our community (whether that be Grove City, or west Columbus), and take our issues to the state legislature. Our representatives should know, in NO uncertain terms, that unless they get this fixed properly they will not be re-elected.
Failing to keep the schools operating at the same levels as years past will drive that rampant unemployment up even more, and hurt the tax base even more.
Also,in those communities that pay more taxes for better schools have the tax base to support them.Our annual individual yearly income(in our district)is 22,500.How can you possibly expect these people to take on more?
I have nothing to do with SWCS educated children scoring poorly on tests because I didn’t support the most recent levy request.Only the teachers responsible for teaching those students bear that outcome.
I already see drugs,youths walking aimlessly around and getting into trouble.And it’s not due to lack of extra curricular activities at school(that were still available to them without pay to play),it’s due to lack of parental supervision because these parents are gone night and day ,working sometimes two and three jobs.Even though they work like this there is no money left for their child to join the YMCA or something.
Everyone has had to adjust to the changing workplace(lost manufacturing jobs)and now it’s time for those that live off of our tax dollars to realize they must change too.
There is no money,it’s that simple.You cannot expect to keep the same programs that we could afford before this rampant unemployment and all of the resulting consequences.
I will remind you that I do pay a hefty amount of taxes to SWCS,despite the fact that me and many homes in our district have no children attending the schools.I do not begrudge the school system the schools that I helped build and the very good wages that my tax dollars afford SWCS employees.It is impossible to pay them more,give raises when the money isn’t there.No private corporation could do this and remain solvent.Neither can the schools.These people must change their ideals as well as those that thought they’d be employed in their manufacturing jobs.
The extras that kids need for college can be achieved by privately donating their time to the causes of their choice.Everyone must change.I’d hoped that SWCS would come up with something innovated-some new ideas,not just keep that status quo.This monster will continue to grow and you’ll be coming back for more because the necessary changes have not been made.In fact this school system and others are in denial about our changing economy,dooming themselves to the same rollercoaster ride again and again.
Laura, you contradict yourself. You want pay to play which you say benefits only the “haves.“ Then you complain that the levy does nothing for people in “abject poverty.“ Pay to play PUNISHES people whose families earn less.
If you want the economic conditions of your community to improve, it will take educating a generation of children to live better than we do and make smarter decisions so that they are prepared to handle the challenges of a changing economy - one that is transitioning from a manufactuing economy to a technology economy. If you want jobs for your community, it starts with having an educated workforce available to employers. Many people live in poverty because they don’t make smart choices as a result of lack of education and support from no voters. It’s as simple as that.
Every teacher, employer and college administrator will tell you the value of extracurricular activities.
Proof? Handbook of Child Psychology, page 980 - “Research on extracurricular activities has documented a positive link between adolescents and high school GPA, strong school engagement and high educational aspirations. This work has also documented the protective value of extracurricular activity in reducing dropout rates as well as involvement in delinquent and other risky behaviors. Participation in sports, in particular, has been linked to a lower likelihood of school dropout and higher rates of college attendance, especialy among low achieving and blue-collar students.“
21,000 students with nothing to do after school - that solves a lot. Drugs, crime, inappropriate behaviors resulting from boredom - if that’s what you want to see kids do after school, great, that solves a lot.
EVERY college requires extracurricular activities for admission with the exception of DeVry, ITT and Columbus State - and to get a scholarship from Cols. State, you HAVE to have extracurricular activities. Note - scholarships help people in an economic crisis.
Laura, this is how you break the cycle of foreclosures, bankruptcies, poverty, by making the next generation better than the one before.
One last comment - our district’s scores do fare lower than others because of people like you who don’t support the levy. Look at the track record of districts who support it - they have higher scores and higher property values and higher taxes. So you get what you pay for, don’t you? We are asking teachers to do more with less resources so they spend money OUT OF THEIR POCKETS that should be theirs to keep.
Invest = return on investment. Don’t invest = dead end.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement