School districts, taxpayers squeezed by economy, tax hikes

Steve Kaufhold, of Mount Joy-based KLB Masonry, lays a block foundation at Ferguson Elementary.

[Willie Don]

What I have never understood in my thirteen years here in Pennsylvania is why this tax is fine with residents UNTIL they A.Retire B. Pay their house off or C. Children grow up and no longer go to school or they have no children.

[common sense people]

Live for nothing, Die for something!
The Tree of Liberty need to be watered! It is withering away! WAKE UP PEOPLE!

[liz]

York County can not provide the jobs to support the tax
base here.People are moving out to find work.This isnt
New York City,opportunities are not abundant here.Property
and School taxes are to high.The Schools in York County
look like Country Clubs,compared to schools in other areas.
Schools need to focus on education instead of construction
and sports.The School districts have to much power,and the
people have no say, as to how their tax dollars are managed.
Politics in the School system are out of control,and most
suffer from the classic corporate disease, POOR MANAGEMENT!

[RKL]

Limit the total number of students per school year. If additional students apply, then they just have to wait their turn. Tell 'em we're full up this year. We simply do not have the cash to keep building more schools and hiring more teachers. It just has to stop.

[RKL]

liz wrote:

York County can not provide the jobs to support the tax
base here.People are moving out to find work.This isnt
New York City,opportunities are not abundant here.Property
and School taxes are to high.The Schools in York County
look like Country Clubs,compared to schools in other areas.
Schools need to focus on education instead of construction
and sports.The School districts have to much power,and the
people have no say, as to how their tax dollars are managed.
Politics in the School system are out of control,and most
suffer from the classic corporate disease, POOR MANAGEMENT!

Boy did you nail that right! Any activity that does not involve class time should not be shouldered by the school district. You want you kid to play football, COOL, as long as YOU pay for it.(electricity for night games and all). Build schools that are "functional" not palaces; then learn to manage your cash flow. If you're broke, quit taxing and spending.

[In The Know]

The cost of education is dominated (60 percent or more of budgets) by pay and benefits.

Is it right to pay our school superintendents in York County 140-150 thousand or more a year?

Then, you have assistant superintendents paid 110-thousand or more.

Some 40 years ago the legislature in Pennsylvania came up with a minimum teacher salary.

Maybe its time for a maximum teacher salary.

We should cap salaries in public schools to save money.

The StopTeachersStrikes website has a link that you can use to find out how much teachers make in all the school districts.

I don't like the idea of replacing old taxes with new ones (property with sales) but I'm convinced that real spending cuts are needed and its the salaries and benefits that must be controlled.

Then taxation will be brought under control.

[same stuff]

Its the same stuff every year,excuses on why they have to raise our taxes.I live the in spring grove school district, and with them getting 4% and 5% raises for next couple years its no wonder our taxes keep going up.I thought we were in a recession.

[Big Brother Takeover]

What are these greedy school districts gonna do when all the houses are sitting empty? My property value has declined,why not my taxes? Where is my slot machine tax relief? What am I even paying for,Jr to play basketball?Surely not a decent education.It seems most graduates today can't even spell.Wake up sheeple! It's time to revolt!

[Enough Already]

same stuff wrote:

Its the same stuff every year,excuses on why they have to raise our taxes.I live the in spring grove school district, and with them getting 4% and 5% raises for next couple years its no wonder our taxes keep going up.I thought we were in a recession.

You are right, we are in a recession and a very deep one. It just so happens our local school districts act like the federal government, just keep spending with absolutely no common sense applied, figure that.
When we moved to PA 9 years ago our school taxes were $1800 per year, they are now $5600 with little change in population of students in the district. The sad part is when they rated High Schools, Kennard-Dale does not rank very high at all. Which leads me to believe what exactly are we paying for?

[Living In Margaritaville]

A hard line to admit but the whole country is being held for ransom, at least she states "Its like I'm renting from the school districts"??

They have you right where they want you baby, right in the cross hairs and ready to get an itchy trigger finger

[Commandante Bravo]

Its time for some common sense when it comes to schools.

They take our money and preach political correctness. Now they even want to dumb down standards in this state.

Pennsylvania is creating a new system of testing where math and reading will not be stressed. Students can fail four of the tests and still graduate from high school.

Union power means big pay and generous health benefits and pensions.

I've been told that the Pennsylvania State Education Association teachers union dominates politics in both parties in this state.

They even have members who teach in one school district and serve on school boards in the districts where they live.

Its no wonder our taxes go up when you have union members even serving on local school boards. Boards also have wives and husbands of union members and school employees on them.

These are more pieces of the puzzle that explain our constantly rising property taxes for schools.

[fred]

What happened to Randell helping with the "slot" money. I guess this mafia buddies got it

[And The Truth Is]

We need to take back this state from the bought and paid for politicians.

When you vote for Democrats like Ed Rendell, Bob Casey or Eugene DePasquale and when you vote for Republicans like Todd Platts, Keith Gillespie, Stan Saylor or Ron Miller you vote for people who are endorsed by the teachers union.

They support every politician around and in turn the system keeps doling out the pensions, big pay raises etc.

Lets get laws to cap pay in education, keep employees of school and family members off school boards, reform the pension, require employees to pay more of the cost of medical benefits.

[Living In Margaritaville]

Commandante Bravo wrote:

Its time for some common sense when it comes to schools.
They take our money and preach political correctness. Now they even want to dumb down standards in this state.
Pennsylvania is creating a new system of testing where math and reading will not be stressed. Students can fail four of the tests and still graduate from high school.
Union power means big pay and generous health benefits and pensions.
I've been told that the Pennsylvania State Education Association teachers union dominates politics in both parties in this state.
They even have members who teach in one school district and serve on school boards in the districts where they live.
Its no wonder our taxes go up when you have union members even serving on local school boards. Boards also have wives and husbands of union members and school employees on them.
These are more pieces of the puzzle that explain our constantly rising property taxes for schools.

I like your last part Stan, "These are more pieces of the puzzle that explain out constandly rising property taxes for Schools"

U forgot, it's also the part of the puzzle and totally explains why more students are dumber then a pile of fckin rocks too!!

[Living In Margaritaville]

fred wrote:

What happened to Randell helping with the "slot" money. I guess this mafia buddies got it

He meant the "slot" in his front door, that's where they drop the extra money!!

[patk]

I agree with you Margie . Southeastern school tax is going to run us away from here. I don't think that the senior citizens and people who don't have children in school should have to pay this school tax. I have been here for 33 years, I have seen all those raises you have talked about. I now have no children in school ,why should I have to pay school tax. Everyone just wants to have their hand in your pockets. I am ready to sell ,anyone want to buy my home??? Have a good day!!

[patk]

I just wrote above about southeastern school district. I live in peachbottom township, pa. it has me listed as georgetown, canada/ why I don't know, anyone know how I can change this??? thanks

[marlin]

No can do!
You live Georgetown, Canada!
I know, I've seen you there with your
morning coffee & newspaper!
I was even there the day the bus almost
hit you. I was the one that yelled,
LOOK OUT THERE.....BUS!

[Semi-literate]

Commandante Bravo wrote:

Its time for some common sense when it comes to schools.
They take our money and preach political correctness. Now they even want to dumb down standards in this state.
Pennsylvania is creating a new system of testing where math and reading will not be stressed. Students can fail four of the tests and still graduate from high school.
Union power means big pay and generous health benefits and pensions.
I've been told that the Pennsylvania State Education Association teachers union dominates politics in both parties in this state.
They even have members who teach in one school district and serve on school boards in the districts where they live.
Its no wonder our taxes go up when you have union members even serving on local school boards. Boards also have wives and husbands of union members and school employees on them.
These are more pieces of the puzzle that explain our constantly rising property taxes for schools.

Would you care to separate your facts from your innuendos? CAN you separate your facts from your innuendos? Does your post contain any provable facts? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Semi-literate]

Let's see, the stats show PA is in the basement where it comes to proportions of state funding for school districts. Guess what? Stats from the National Library Assoc. show that PA is equally as pathetic in helping to fund our libraries. Oh, my! A look at the funding percentages for PA to help our Land Grant and state-related colleges and universities reveal that PA is down in the basement there also!
Shouldn't the general public be a bit ashamed by all this, considering PA seems to have PLENTY of money to support wealthy sports teams build new cathedral-like stadiums? If you think the price of education is high, wait and see what the cost of ignorance is like. And we are well on the way.