Heavy Hitters!

We tried, we really did. But about 10 years ago it was obvious that there would NEVER be enough money to feed the ravenous appetite of the Kanawha Country School system. The more we gave them, the more they spent on administrators and "councilors". The more we gave them, the more they found unacceptable ways to spend it.

IN THE MEANTIME, OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF!

People, we've got to STOP this madness! The land of milk & honey is drying up! The good economy that we've gotten used to is OVER! We simply dont have the extra cash to DONATE to every government entity that has it's hand out!

Look around you: Have you EVER seen so many brand new government vehicles in your life? CITY - COUNTY -STATE all have brand new plush vehicles and each arm of government is FLUSH with money. If they need a little more... they simply raise a tax of FEE.

We pay so many hidden taxes and fees right now that we simply cant afford to continue to give this school board another dime! More importantly, we've GOT to DEMAND that they work with less money and make that money COUNT for a change!

STOP THE LEVY! STOP THE EXCESS LEVY! STOP THE MADNESS!

but....the children deserve to be driven to the mall in nice cars.

remember , it's for the children.

Gazette Readers' forum: Jan. 29, 2008


Inflated mortgages raise property tax

Editor:

I am so mad I could bite nails! I just received another property reappraisal from Kanawha County.

I have made no improvements and yet I will have to pay $262 more next year. Why? They say it's due to properties in my neighborhood increasing in value. But why did they increase? Simple:

Those easy mortgage loans that everyone's talking about made it possible for people to pay more than the houses were really worth! Now, those people can barely make their mortgages, but I am being victimized for living in the area.

Like many, I'm on a fixed income that doesn't take much to disrupt.

And the very idea that the county assessor wouldn't understand how hard it is for many of us, and the fact that property values have actually gone down over much of the nation is beyond me.

We here in West Virginia try to hang on the best we can, but it's no wonder that more of us are leaving. When that happens, the dear taxpayer must shoulder the extra burden. We simply can't take much more of this, and I suggest that every person who receives this obscene increase in their property tax contact the assessor's office and County Commission.

Jerry Waters

Charleston

I was wondering if it is legal for the teachers to push the levy on students? They did this when I was in school. They told us how we would have to pay for our own text books and that sports would be taken away. I just hope my 5 year old doesn't come home spewing that crap from his teachers.

Its all legal if its a liberal message pushed on them.

Guess what half day of school today for those of you that don't have kids. They could have took this half day away and three more, then my kid wouldn't have to go two days into the summer.

Most levy funds go to boost salaries


When Kanawha County school officials discuss putting renewal of the excess levy before county voters, they tend to talk about the new cost items they will include in the proposal.

But the lion's share of the money would go toward items - mostly county supplements to employee salaries and benefits - that have been funded by excess levy revenues for many years.

The levy, which must be renewed by voters every five years, will be on the May 13 primary ballot.

Recent levies have included caps on revenue, and this proposal is no different.

The board is pledging to set the levy rate so that it generates no more than $44.7 million from property owners in the 2009-10 fiscal year. After that the cap would steadily decrease until fiscal year 2013-14, when it would be $44.2 million.

For a taxpayer with a house with fair market value of $100,000 and a vehicle with value of $15,000, the current school excess levy would account for $281 of his property tax bill this year.

If Kanawha County voters renew the excess levy, that same property owner would pay $290 next year.

Property tax bills reflect several different levies, including the regular school levy and separate levies for county government, bus and ambulance service and various municipalities.

The proposed five-year cycle for the school excess levy would include money for some new items.

Over that period about $2.4 million would pay for five additional school counselors; about $5.1 million would go to building new commons areas at both Nitro and Sissonville high schools; and $2.5 million would help pay for construction of two West Side elementary schools.

Another large chunk, $11.2 million, would go toward technology upgrades in all schools.

But the vast majority of the money would be used for items that have been funded by the excess levy for many years.

For example, about $153.2 million over the next five years would be used to pay the county supplements to salaries for professional educators, school service workers and substitutes.

This year alone, about $16.2 million in excess levy money is being spent to supplement the $80.5 million the state provides for the salaries of teachers and other professional educators.

For example, a Kanawha County teacher with a master's degree plus 10 years of experience is paid $39,220 per year. Of that, $4,131 comes from the excess levy.

MORE....

http://www.dailymail.com/News/Kanawha/2 ... uild=cache

How much did you pay in land taxes this year? The Kanawha County school system takes 70% of all land taxes paid in Kanawha County. All other county agencies operate on the remaining 30%.


Don’t you think $190,000,000.00 is enough money to support one county school system? That is 190 million dollars to spend in Kanawha County alone. However, since the cap on the excess levy has been removed, they will be awarded 230 million for the 08-09 fiscal year if we vote yes on the excess levy.

Last year, 07-08, they spent 217 million dollars. Historically there is evidence they request more each and every year. They are never satisfied.

I have a budget. When that budget is exhausted, I have to stop spending. My employer doesn't supply me with all I want. The school board and the teachers work for you and me. We must stop giving them all they want. It is solely the responsibility of the voters to make it stop.

If the excess levy doesn’t pass this year, they will still get 190 million.

Our taxes will continue to increase each year as long as Kanawha County has free reign into our bank accounts via our tax tickets. They need money? It will be supplied to them by absconding 70% of the taxes paid by land owners. (I use the word absconding because many landowners don't have a clue what is going on.) Every year they want more money therefore, our taxes will increase.



We must say no to our taxes continuing to increase. I, among many others, can’t afford for them to take away more of my money.

I support Pete Thaw’s diligent efforts to stop the board from taking more and more money from the public. However, he can’t do it alone. He needs help.


I’m asking all who receive this email to help spread it to everyone in Kanawha County who doesn’t enjoy giving large sums of money with no substantial returns.


PLEASE VOTE FOR

BILL FERRELL AND

ROBIN RECTOR

TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
*********

Thank you one and all,

Diana M. Brown

They could probably fire half the administrators (or more) and things would improve greatly.

Take a look at the KCS Fleet of vehicles that are used for personal transportation only !!!!!!

If the levy doesn't pass, is there a way to stop the additional special elections which seem to be inevitable in this situation? Also, if the levy doesn't pass, is there a way to guarantee the purchase price of books will not become the responsibility of the families. The only way I can think to insure this from happening is to work doubly hard getting votes for Robin Rector and Bill Ferrell. Please, everyone copy and paste the data on this topic into an email to be sent to all in your address book. (I try not to include teachers and county workers as they will not be easily swayed.) If we all work together and try our very best it can be done.

i voted NO today on the levy

So did I!!!!!