Comments on: “One of the state’s pre-eminent school districts…” http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:41:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Shannon Stratford http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70 Shannon Stratford Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:16:33 +0000 http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm#comment-70 I pulled out my tax bill for this year and I have come to realize something quite remarkable and something that I feel is absolutely shameful. We pay more taxes, almost double, towards schools than any other public service. My husband and I pay more on school tax than we do for fire or police protection combined and if this carte blanche referendum passes, we WILL be paying even more. Don't be fooled ... never in the history of referendums has there never been a tax increase, never. Ladies and Gentlemen, you can take that to the bank; lower property taxes this year because of the tax break we received; however, if that referendum passes, you'll be taking a second and third job just to pay for your property taxes next tax year. We absolutely do need school improvement! I am very supportive on that issue for our existing schools. We do not yet need to think about creating new schools. I attending Distirct 5 throughout grade school and high school and I am very, very proud of the fact that I graduated from Chapin High in '87 and my husband graduated from Irmo High in '85. We were there during the golden years. The leadership in the planning and development of our existing school system is sorely lacking, or am I just an uneducated product of this fine District? Read the referendum ... look at your property tax bill from the previous years. Educate yourself! Vote NO on Tuesday. We need a better plan folks! I pulled out my tax bill for this year and I have come to realize something quite remarkable and something that I feel is absolutely shameful. We pay more taxes, almost double, towards schools than any other public service. My husband and I pay more on school tax than we do for fire or police protection combined and if this carte blanche referendum passes, we WILL be paying even more.

Don’t be fooled … never in the history of referendums has there never been a tax increase, never. Ladies and Gentlemen, you can take that to the bank; lower property taxes this year because of the tax break we received; however, if that referendum passes, you’ll be taking a second and third job just to pay for your property taxes next tax year.

We absolutely do need school improvement! I am very supportive on that issue for our existing schools. We do not yet need to think about creating new schools. I attending Distirct 5 throughout grade school and high school and I am very, very proud of the fact that I graduated from Chapin High in ’87 and my husband graduated from Irmo High in ’85. We were there during the golden years. The leadership in the planning and development of our existing school system is sorely lacking, or am I just an uneducated product of this fine District?

Read the referendum … look at your property tax bill from the previous years. Educate yourself!

Vote NO on Tuesday. We need a better plan folks!

]]> By: Pres http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-65 Pres Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:09:37 +0000 http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm#comment-65 I really don't understand how Baumgardner and Fowler are supporting this referendum. I guess last year's election scared them into forgetting about fiscal conservatism. I really don’t understand how Baumgardner and Fowler are supporting this referendum. I guess last year’s election scared them into forgetting about fiscal conservatism.

]]> By: Bill McKinzie http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-61 Bill McKinzie Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:53:36 +0000 http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm#comment-61 It seems to me that the School District 5 bond referendums never alow for compromise or choice. I am willing to support the District and strongly believe in a public school system. However, I am only given the choice to vote "pie in the sky" or nothing. It's "their way or the highway". I believe our existing schools need attention. I do not believe another high school between Chapin and Dutch Fork fits our needs. Why not one referendum for improvements and another for each new school? I resent being told I must totally support a plan or be totally against it. I do support parts of the plan, but not all. But, the District and the bond referendum supporters offer no compromise. Oh yes, since when should I pay higher taxes so someone else can move into my neighborhood. I don't mind them moving in, but they should cover the additional costs of their presence. What is wrong with impact fees? Don't new homeowners pay for water, sewer, cable TV hookups and paving their driveways and subdivision streets? You know those costs are in their purchase price. This is not about the developers paying more. So, I will vote no to this ultimatum, and hope for future choices compromise before it is too late. It seems to me that the School District 5 bond referendums never alow for compromise or choice.

I am willing to support the District and strongly believe in a public school system. However, I am only given the choice to vote “pie in the sky” or nothing. It’s “their way or the highway”.

I believe our existing schools need attention. I do not believe another high school between Chapin and Dutch Fork fits our needs.

Why not one referendum for improvements and another for each new school?

I resent being told I must totally support a plan or be totally against it. I do support parts of the plan, but not all. But, the District and the bond referendum supporters offer no compromise.

Oh yes, since when should I pay higher taxes so someone else can move into my neighborhood. I don’t mind them moving in, but they should cover the additional costs of their presence.

What is wrong with impact fees? Don’t new homeowners pay for water, sewer, cable TV hookups and paving their driveways and subdivision streets? You know those costs are in their purchase price. This is not about the developers paying more.

So, I will vote no to this ultimatum, and hope for future choices compromise before it is too late.

]]> By: Phil Roof http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-59 Phil Roof Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:43:00 +0000 http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm#comment-59 Nathan: I am sending you comments from the past thirty one years of leadership for the district. They helped make it number one and want to keep it that way. I hope that you will post their comments. Phil Nathan: I am sending you comments from the past thirty one years of leadership for the district. They helped make it number one and want to keep it that way. I hope that you will post their comments. Phil

]]> By: Dave Dyer http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-56 Dave Dyer Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:37:32 +0000 http://nathansnews.com/one-of-the-states-pre-eminent-school-districts.htm#comment-56 The referendum should be passed; we can't wait any longer. But, it's those who profit from developing around the District 5 schools that should provide the funds to pay for it. Individual homeowners, particularly those who have lived in the district for years, should not be expected to pay for the developers' projects. The referendum should be passed; we can’t wait any longer. But, it’s those who profit from developing around the District 5 schools that should provide the funds to pay for it. Individual homeowners, particularly those who have lived in the district for years, should not be expected to pay for the developers’ projects.

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