(click on picture to enlarge)Seriously, over half of the respondents have just given up on Unified? Don't you all realize how much the public can effect change? Whether its blogging, attending rallies, public hearings or even RUSD public input sessions - the power of the Joe or Jane Public is HUGE!
I seriously hope that most of the NO respondents simply just had a bad day, and instead of kicking Fido, they took out their frustrations via their computer and mouse.
If the public will not speak, how in the hell are things supposed to get any better?
10 comments:
Brenda,
I agree that the power of Joe and Jane Public is huge, and they get a chance at least once a year to enhibit their power via the voting polls.
However, in regard to our schools, the Board of Education holds a lot of power to effect change and they waste it! They waste our time with their arguing and indecision, and they've wasted our money with their indecision and insufficient oversights!! Meanwhile nothing changes in a time when we so desperately need a change, and we've needed change for a long time. They have let us down all too often.
If you're told that "you suck" long enough, you eventually believe it, so I understand the apathy.
The question now is, "How do we overcome that and get the community excited about our schools?"
The BOE getting their act together would be a great start.
Brenda, I think you know I'm far from apathetic about anything. Yet I voted "no" in the Journal Times poll. Because I really believe Unified will not see substantial improvements in education until there is a drastic change in its structure.
The reason I don't see that changing anytime in the future is the makeup of the BOE (the loss of Randy Bangs doesn't help.) And as long as the balance of the power structure in Racine is in the hands of J-Wax, RAMAC, etc., they will control the board and Unified will stay status quo.
Right now it's a physics thing for me - inertia - it's easier for an object to continue on its present course than to change.
BTW, we need to have a serious discussion about this sales tax exemption thing. Removing a tax exemption is a tax increase...PERIOD! These are not "privileged" businesses - many of them are very low overhead, or provide services that are incredibly expensive, i.e. accoutants, attorneys. The tax alone on many municipalities for necessary legal counsel would be considerable - and passed along to you VIA YOUR PROPERTY TAXES! If either you or "concerned for caledonia" really believe, in the tax and spend state of Wisconsin, that eliminating sales tax exemptions would either serve to maintain a current level or property taxes, or lower property taxes, I need some of what you're smoking! ;^) Again, you can try to label it anyway you'd like, a rose is stil a rose and a tax increase is still a tax increase.
Point well taken, I understand your concern.
Remember, what I said a few weeks ago! I am not against taxes - only unjust ones.
Sales tax exemptions, were in the beginning and still are, political favors given to a select few. They made sense when Wisconsin had mainly a manufacturing economy, it does not make sense now.
I would love to see everyone paying their fair share, especially when in comes to schools, instead of having the homeowner bear the brunt of it.
With regards to the school funding formula, I appreciate the control of spending it has, what I hate is the inequitable way of divving up the state tax dollars.
Kat - The BOE actally being decisive and proactive(instead of reactive) is kind of like the Holy Grail. If somehow this elusive Holy Grail if found and used wisely, there is no telling how far this district can go.
Administrators will come and go; some will effective and some will not, but the board must allow these administrators to actually do the things they want to do!
We keep hearing "When we have tackled redistricting, grade configuration, and facility needs, then we will have the time and energy to focus on other things like student engagement and success!"
At this point, I would rather have them make an "okay" decision today than study the data to death and make an "excellent" decision in 5 years.
We need to move on to other things, we cannot continue to focus what the schools will "look" like, we need to focus on what actually happens INSIDE the schools.
Although that's just my opinion.
I agree.
Of course you do, you're "a freakin genius"!
Brenda,brenda, brenda...again with the sales tax exemptions...Sales tax exemptions, "were in the beginning and still are, political favors given to a select few. They made sense when Wisconsin had mainly a manufacturing economy, it does not make sense now.
I would love to see everyone paying their fair share, especially when in comes to schools, instead of having the homeowner bear the brunt of it."
You're really pushing my button here - but are you serious?
This sounds exactly like a soundbite from an individual or organization that wants to spend more money via sale taxes.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO UNDERSTAND...THESE ARE BUSINESSES, FOR THE MOST PART, THAT HAVE EITHER VERY LOW OVERHEAD AND PAYING SALES TAXES WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE ON THEIR PART TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS, OR THESES ARE BUSINESSES WHOSE FEES ARE EXORBITANT. IN EITHER INSTANCE...WE THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE PAYING THE TAX, NOT THE BUSINESS! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS!
I am actually in favor or sales tax exemptions being extended to additional businesses - it would very likely stimulate economic growth! Having been owner or co-owner of two small businesses, and managing others, it's not the paying of the sales tax that's a burden...because you recoup those costs from your customers...it's the time involved with the paperwork to pay the damned tax.
And for businesses that are operating on a very small profit margin, adding a sales tax to their customer's cost, (which they have to do because they can't afford to pay the tax from operating expenses) often prices them out of the market!
So, now not only will you see an increase in your property tax as accountants/attorneys now add sales tax to their fees to the village - and they'll pass it on to you, but the State of Wisconsin, sorely in need of retaining every business, no matter how small, will force some of these small businesses owners to leave!
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE LEVEL OF TAXES IN THIS STATE (OR WITH uNIFIED) IT'S THE SPENDING!
CU - Your CAPS LOCK appears to be stuck - I know a good computer geek that could look into that problem for you.... :)
Adding costs to the business by collecting sales tax. I file sales tax monthly for the business I work for - I have to combine 6 different locations (with 3 different tax rates) and it's takes me an hour at the most to gather the data, log on to the website, fill out the form and pay online.
I'm sorry, I'm just not buying that argument about extra expense.
Brenda, I just have this feeling my caps lock are going to stick again. You're obviously working for a business that's computerized. Many of these small businesses aren't - my dog groomer isn't. Actually, our sales business wasn't and it could take an additional day of work for the quarterly sales tax - small items, lots of sales. That's a lot for a very small one or two person business.
But let's address the other - the most repugnant part of this - sales tax for high-priced "consultants" Since I posted my other response, I've been reminded that governments probably would still maintain the exemptions for legal and accounting "consultant" work.
But what about the company that's defending against a frivolous lawsuit? I'm sure you'll agree, we live in an overly litigious society. Even though a suit may eventually be thrown out, it's not out of the question for a company to spend 1/2 million or up to defend against it. By removing the exemption for attorneys, you've now increased their cost of litigating something they were not responsible for to begin with, and that cost will be transferred to the taxpayers in higher cost of goods or services. And imagine the costs if a suit is found to have merit and litigation continues for years. So is it fair, that the cost of your coffee at McDonalds has gone up 25 cents because Suzie Schmuck was too stupid not to dump the hot coffee in her lap? Suzie's gotten millions and all we get are higher costs of product - even higher because of a sales tax on legal fees - that tax could approach six digits.
Let's discuss Brenda, Caledonia citizen. Hypothetically Brenda is arrested for what she feels is a trumped up charge. She hires an attorney to fight the charge. Her costs are now 5%+ higher to defend herself. So instead of a $10,000 legal bill, her bill is now $10,500. Maybe you're rolling in dough, but that $500, for me, would go a long way at Christmas time. If you're found innocent - is that fair that you've paid the extra?
We all have a right to due process and to defend ourselves. If we can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed. As legal fees go even higher because of a sales tax, there will be even more pressure on public defenders as plaintiffs claim they can't afford an attorney (I've worked for many of these guys - I've seen how it works) requiring even more public defenders be appointed at taxpayer cost. Have any idea what a murder trial costs? And whether or not an individual is guilty, they have a right to that trial.
Since we trashed our tort reform in this state, businesses are already questioning staying here because of increased exposure to frivolous lawsuits. I'm sure the extra 5.5% or tens of thousands of dollars, they'll pay to attorneys to defend themselves will make them instantly change their minds and want to stay in Wisconsin - you get that was pure sarcasm, right?
Removing an exemption is a tax increase, PERIOD...ooops my caps are stuck again.
BUT PERHAPS I'M WASTING MY TIME, SINCE YOU're OBVIOUSLY A LIBERAL TAX AND SPENDER.
One more try...let's address the "fair thing!" You know what would be fair - I've NEVER used one cent of Unified money. My parents sacrified and saved for their kids to go to an alternative (actually we kids sacrified quite a bit as well and had to babysit, etc to help pay for highschool,) yet they paid thousands in Unified taxes.
I've never had kids in Unified - yet I've paid tens of thousands in Unified taxes. What would be fair - why don't you write me a check for my portions of your kid's education? OK - this example is a little rude, but I'm trying to get you to understand...HERE COME CAPS AGAIN...WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES - THERE IS NO CONCEPT OF FAIRNESS!
The removal of the sales tax exemption was first discussed a few years ago after the Wisconsin Counties Association suggested it to their local branches. This association will suggest anything to get more money - I have yet to see them come up with a viable plan for development or anything, that doesn't end up further burdening the taxpayers.
I was part of a group that successfully fought it back then and I will fight it a second time if need be.
Another thing to understand, the removal of a sales tax exemption does not guarantee any reduction in any other taxes. This is something that would be county-wide and could be overturned by a single vote of a new county board completely nullifying any relief sales tax revenue could provide to property taxes. This is where this proposal always fails.
CU -
I giggled a little bit when you called me a Tax & Spend Liberal.
I'm not against taxes, however, Wisconsin's ENTIRE tax code needs to be overhauled. We need a tax structure like the southern and western states. They all have schools, roads, parks, and fire and police protection - yet the average homeowner is not bearing the heaviest burden in these states. Don't you ever wonder how these states exist without placing such a burden on the homeowners?
BTW - I'm all for senior citizens being able to "opt out" of the school taxes, like they do in Georgia and other states. But in order for that to happen, they (our government) need to consolidate more services, repeal the good ol' boy exemptions that don't make sense anymore , and start taxing fairly.
I'm not suggesting YOU are a senior citizen, but just wanted you to know that....
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