by Bill Huff
Local school boards find them themselves “in a pickle” as Rep Holcombe described, but it is likely not of their own doing. I can’t speak for the other 3 towns in Windsor Orange 2 House District but after finally receiving the school report yesterday and attending an info session last night at TES, it appears that both schools here in Thetford have been able to hold budget increases to a minimum in a horrible economic environment. Why then are school tax rates increasing over 30% in Thetford? For starters, 30% or more is the good news. Prior to H850 the rate was going to be about 46%. The bad news, for some surrounding towns, is they are going to have to make up what our district towns have been “discounted.” The other bad news is barring any drastic changes soon, school tax rates are likely to double over the next five years according to Rep Holcombe.
Rep Holcombe described it as a group going out to dinner and some ordering a burger and a case of beer wile others order a salad and water but everybody splits the check equally. I think we can all agree how unfair that sounds but it was sold as equal education funding. Several times last night it was instead called “combating poverty.” Under Act 127, school funding is now become a social welfare program. More of MY money is now OUR money for the legislature to redistribute. I have always been in favor of a strong social safety net for those that need it, however equality these days is simply a plan to make us all poor.
Legislators became drunk on Federal Covid dollars and are desperate for the binge to continue leaving the hangover headache for constituents to deal with. Rep Holcombe vowed to fix the problem. What she didn’t say, is the “fix” is to raise more taxes in order to “buy down” the education fund. Not to find savings or spend less, only to find more revenue. Considering Vermont schools are amongst the most top heavy in the country, consideration should be given to right sizing school administration, particularly at the very top.
Last night’s discussion soon turned to finding an alternative to a real estate tax to fund our schools. A bill in play this year would “tax the rich” although the top 1% already pay nearly half the taxes collected. Remember that doesn’t lower the taxes for any of the rest of us, it is simply more money that can be spent. Another bill would tax assets even before gains were realized. Are they going to give my taxes back when the value of my asset falls? I’m afraid we are moving in a direction where income will be taxed. Those with the ability to pay, will pay more. Wealthy people don’t work for wages like the rest of us. Consequently,” income” for tax purposes, is easily, legally manipulated. The unintended consequence would be the wealthy would actually pay less, leaving the blue-collar middle class holding the bag once again.
We will be asked to support our schools and our students by accepting the increases. Those that can, probably will vote yes. There are many however, that simply cannot afford it, especially if rates double over the next five years. This has been coming for years and yet we continue to elect the same individuals to represent us. We repeatedly shoot ourselves in the foot and seemingly enjoy it.
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Categories: Commentary
“equality these days is simply a plan to make us all poor.” You’re right, it’s called equity and is a goal of the globalist masters. Their motto: “You will own nothing and you will be happy.”
Unfortunately or maybe it’s fortunately that each voter only has two feet to shoot.
What will happen to all the Vermonter’s who can barely pay their property (school) tax now ? What will happen to all the renters who can’t afford their rent to increase 20 – 30%, (because property tax increases hits apartment owners too)? Will Montpeculier be feeding an increase to the population of homeless in Vermont ? Who will be the point guy to foster the house forfeiture and sale to the alarming number of homeowners who can no longer pay their property (school) tax ? Will Vermont once again be first in the nation on how to destroy a state ? How many companies will flee Vermont putting even more people out of work, and no ability to pay their taxes ?
Let us salute our Governor, Representatives, and Senators who have achieved the impossible ! Maybe they will all write a manual on how to destroy a state !
…and some leaders are addicted to the DC teat…is there a cure for them?
This is an example of smoke and mirrors, all used to deceive the taxpayer.
1) This was all brought about because some small schools didn’t have a computer.
2) It was supposed to keep the small schools open.
3) It was supposed to keep our taxes lower and have better management.
4) We were supposed to have better education for our children.
Know a tree by its fruit, is a very, very insightful story.
What do we have? What is the fruit.
1) Suddenly across the state, the only buildings collapsing and not having the ability to last longer than 40 years or 50 years are the schools funded by our taxes!
2) Our small schools are being closed; we have no input locally.
3) Our taxes are skyrocketing, and the management is Byzantine to be kind.
4) Our Children are taught to give blow jobs at 6 years old, to experience the love anal sex, to experience all sorts of lustful things in the name of “love”. They are taught to protest. They are taught the world is going to end. The little white boys are taught they are the reason for slavery, 150 years ago, they are racist and the cause of all the problems in the world, yet they struggle to make their bed every morning and are just learning to read. We spend massive amounts of money trying to make people something they aren’t and never will be, rather than accepting and loving them for whom they are. We teach our children how to hate rather than love.
The reason it’s so complicated and there is so much finger pointing and lying, is they don’t want accountability. It’ was designed this way on purpose. Teaching children what is needed in High School is a very noble and worth job, while we may launch solid fuel rockets in physics, it is not rocket science.
We are making this way more complicated than it has to be.
100 percent correct analysis. Thank you Neil.
“Drain the Swamp” is the slogan used in reference to Washington D.C. “Flush the Toilet” is appropriate for Montpelier. Wiser people than I have said loudly for twenty years that the direction the Democrat/Progressive legislature is taking us is not sustainable. Yet the Vermont voters cling to the empty promises of their incumbent politicians and pull the handle for them over and over and over again. Maybe this time around voters will wake up and change their bad habits. I won’t hold my breath but I will pray.
All this is brought to you by progressive politics if you’re sick of all the nonsense being levied on you then do something, vote the progressives out, they are a cancer to our state………………………………………..No living free in Vermont !!
They didn’t even do the math when they wrote and passed the law! Think about that. The education industrial complex in vermont and nationwide must be disbanded.
School Boards, Superintendents, Principals, and teachers … ALL thoroughly indoctrinated in the progressive politics of the LEFT and ALL dancing to the tune of the NEA. Any truly “good” teacher would have none of it!
Get your kids out of public schools!