Posted by po'd on March 12, 2005 at 10:15:36 (PST):
In Reply to: Re: Act 72 posted by Sandy on March 12, 2005 at 00:21:00 (PST):
: : : How can not accepting act 72 funds be a possibility. Why is it up to the 9 members of the school board whether or not to accept theses funds? This is what we've been asking for all along...property tax relief. The only reason they have NOT to accept it is that they would have to give up thier "RIGHT" to increase our property taxes. Which by the way they could still raise by the rate of inflation every year. Why should they have this "RIGHT" in the first place? Why shouldn't it be up to ALL of us whether or not to accept the funds?
: : : I urge you all to email the school board members:
: : : (Terry A. Rupp, President) trupp@asd.k12.pa.us
: : : (Timothy M. Ashe Vice Pesident) tashe@asd.k12.pa.us
: : : (Karen L. Bower) bowerkl@msx.upmc.edu
: : : (Larry Bartosh) lbartosh@asd.k12.pa.us
: : : (Joe Close) jclose@asd.k12.pa.us
: : : (John L. Monroe) jmonroe@asd.k12.pa.us
: : : (Rose Stitt) rstitt@asd.k12.pa.us
: : : (D. Royce Smeltzer) drsboard@yahoo.com
: : : (Dr. James Solak) jsolak@iup.edu
: :
: : It seems there are only 4 districts statewide that have signed on for this, so there must be some questions. Also if the State courts rule the slots vote invalid it will be a moot point.
:
: I am sure there is much more to this than meets the eye. Otherwise, all school districts would be jumping on the bandwagon. I have heard that over 50% of the proposed relief will go back to the casino owners first and then we get a share of what is left IF our slots earn 900 million that year. On top of that, we get an increase in earned income tax. We all want property tax relief, but does that mean we jump at any form of proposed relief no questions asked? Our school board hasn't made any decisions one way or the other and I am glad. After all, don't we want them to get all the facts and make an informed decision?
: By the way, the reason those 9 people get to make the decisions is because they were elected to do that. And unless people start speaking out or showing differently it will be business as usual in the ASD. We have the choices when it is election time. I have heard that only one position out of 4 (Rupp's) has any opposition. So if you don't live in Rupp's area and you don't like what the director in your area is doing, run for their seat because you can't vote them out if no one runs against the ones you disagree with. And as always, if you don't vote, then you have no right to complain.
I think you're missing the point. Yes the OWNERS get the first 50% of the profit. It is thier casino. As far as the raised earned income tax, that's a .1% raise (1 penny per 10 dollars). They've asked the questions, they just don't like the answers. It's just like everything else they do. They pay to have a study done, then when the study doesn't agree with what they want to do, they find fault with it and pay for another one, until, ultimately they have a study that comes back with the results they want. Why haven't the others opted in? As I told Honz, they all feel that they have the "RIGHT" to do as they please as far as raising taxes. Opting in to this would finally put that decision back into OUR hands, although they could still raise the tax by the amount of inflation without a vote on it, it would take away the almighty power they have enjoyed, low these many years.
I have always voted. This time, however, if those guys vote to opt out, it's OUT they will go!