Every year the school boards complain they do not have enough funds for education much less the ability to reduce the budget.
“There is no way to cut. The only way you could cut would be by eliminating curriculum” asserts Wilson School Board President Jason B. Hopp in the Reading Eagle Sunday paper, “School Officials fault tax shift law”. In the same article, Exeter board president Kenneth P. Levan parrots “The only place that a school district can look at is reducing staff and increasing class size.”
The Oley Valley School District uses the same rehearsed talking points. School districts monthly Treasurers report reveals they have millions sitting in surplus funds. Frequently these tax dollars are wasted on wish list projects for special interest groups. In the case of Oley, it is the extravagant $1,400,00+, track/facility.
Adding to this buffoonery is the the threat that if they keep taxes in line for only one year, then citizens will be "nailed" next year.
What high handed arrogance!
This pork barrel drains money from education and drives up property taxes. Using surplus money as a slush fund may get politicians elected to a school board, but it shortchanges the students and the homeowners.
When you hear a school board member whine about not having enough money or proclaim there is no place to cut spending, you can be assured this no more than monkey business.
Posts
107 comments:
Using the guise of not being able to cut costs without hurting education is a worn out statement.
Just take a look at the benefits which are bestowed on the teachers.
It is time for the "Board" to listen to the people who pay the bills, and it is also time for the "Board" to realize that they work for us, we do not work for them.
One can blame the teachers for the increases in wages and benefits, but sit back and look at who makes the final descision as to what is included in the contract that is signed by all parties. The teachers are bold enough to ask for the world, the board gives it to them. The taxpayers are ignored.
Thank you, above blogger. Nobody could say it better than you just did.
Oh Al, you're silly rantings are always quite amusing! Keep up the entertainment!! ;)
Which part of Al's post do you want to refute? No, you really don't have anything constructive to say. In fact you probably have never had an original thought.
The rubber bands are heading in the right direction.
The board's dishonesty brings shame on us. They set a bad example for the children.
God bless the families of the victims at VT. Pay attention to what your children are doing. If they're doing well, thank them, thank yourself, and thank a teacher. We all care.
Last evening, we noticed along a 5 mile stretch of Route 12, 10 homes are for sale. There are more people selling than buying ... not a good sign for our community. All the while, the school board continues to deny that they have any part in displacing people. Ignorance sure is bliss for them.
A board with an agenda can use high taxes much the same way banks were caught using red-line lending.
The result is the same.
People are forced from their homes.
Did anyone else read the "Oley Sentinel" that arrived in today's mail. The article on page 10 - "School Board Backs Track, Field Projects," credits comment from Bob Heckman as follows:
"Board President Robert Heckman called the plan one of HIS [emphasis added] most satisfying administrative accomplishments."
Does anyone else find this remark troublesome and insulting to the "taxpayers" -- the people who pay for his grandiose schemes. The taxpayers ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING!!! How dare this board member claim that it is HIS accomplishment. He needs to remember that "pride goeth before a fall."
And many thanks again to Mrs. McCarthy for being the voice of reason on this issue.
LB: I take your comment purely as antagonistic. Therefore, I find your comments more troublesome than those in the paper.
Antagonistic?
I think the word you're looking for, 12:26 blogger...
is
REALISTIC
To 12:26:
Talk about antagonistic. Whew! Take some Prozac.
Hey 12:26! Who are you? At least lb doesn't hide behind "anonymous." Got any guts? Show us.
12:26: What is your opinion of Mr. Heckman's remark?
Thanks.
...12:26: What is your opinion of Mr. Heckman's remark?
Thanks...
What are my opinions?
That Mr. Heckman and the other board members made a decision, hopefully based on the input of the community, including those on this blog.
Personally, I can't stand the thought of the track deal. However, I am not willingfully going to bash those whom have a different opinion from me, even if they have a decision making position.
I will voice my opposition to the 4 or so member of the board which I know, and let them know my feelings. However, I will respect the fact that if I am a no vote, and many others are yes votes, my opinion will not win. And yes, I will, like most of you, be saddled with the expense associated with those decisions.
But lastly, I am not going to live in the past, but only make comments and concerns about the future. My anger concerning the out of control spending at every governmental entity is not going to help my child one iota. I look to the future, and hope that those elected officials make better decisions than those over the past several decades.
I am sorry if my comments angered the group, because that is not my intention. However, I took the comments that I replied too as unnecessary.
Thanks. Your points are well taken.
Hello 12:26:
Interesting comments, since we're in for the same board being led by the person who has led them for the past 17 or so years.
I'm sure we're in for a GREAT future!
The President of the United States is only allowed two 4 year terms. Why is the Board President allowed this lenghty stay? Really, 17 years is crazy, unless we're running a TOP NOTCH SYSTEM.
Why doen't Oley SD have dedicated seats to each township. If the board consists of 9 people, why does each township have two dedicated spots and the left over being the at large seat. Would expanding the # of seats foster more debate, or would it foster additional special needs?
Starting with May, there are seven voting sections (designated polls) of the Valley, (2 Oley, 2 Rusc., 2 Alascace and 1 Pike). Why isn't there 1 designanted from each w/ two at large.
If a gauranteed representation to all was implemented, would the composition of the board change more frequently? Or would it stay the same?
More importantly, would it encourage more individuals to step forward and try?
In the past two elections there have been those who have tried to get in, with no luck. Has Oley always been blessed with a surplus of candidates, or is it a new thing?
I don't necessarily blame those who continue to run, and stay for long periods of time. Look at O'Pake and Spector. They have been doing a horrible job for decades, but keep getting elected. I don't blame them. They probably think they are doing great, because nobody ever beats them. I blame my neighbor for constantly voting for them.
The same holds true for local volunteer positions. School board, town council, etc.
Would changinging the local voting policies change anything?
Board Meeting Highlights: 4/18/07
Grant Application Stalls:
At the meeting 4/11/07, the administration said they wanted the board to approve a grant for “classroom of the future” which would involve spending $500,000 in the first of a three year program.
But at the 4/18/07 meeting, OCC supporter Cindy Smith correctly informed the board that the grant is in the second year and not the first.
The administration agreed with her and said additional meetings would be necessary to determine feasibility.
Continued confusion could prove to be costly for the taxpayers.
Significant Budget Transfer:
The board voted to transfer $471,431.07 amongst various expense functions. The business manager describes them as nothing more that budgetary transfers.
Yet, upon questioning, it appears these monies were over budgeted and they are being moved to other functions.
This is a significant amount of money so early in the fiscal year to be recoded. Normally, it is done just prior to the June budget approval.
If there are additional requests of this nature, it suggests the budget was not accurately done.
School Bus Route Change Request:
A parent asked the board to revise a bus stop schedule due to a safety concern.
The issue is a person on the Megan Law Pennsylvania Website is on the route her children use. They walk 1/3 of a mile to get home near the convicted offender.
She submitted a proposal to the Transportation Committee to remedy her concerns, but the Administration did not act on her request.
Her efforts began in February of this year and finally had to be presented to the board at a public meeting.
She received no satisfaction from the Superintendent, the solicitor, or the board.
Question about Megan's Law:
Is there any mention of said offender on the school website?
Name
Location of home and/or work
physical description
? ? ?
Had I not just read this information, I would not have known about this at all. I'm a parent. I can see a problem like this and handle it. What about the children? They depend on us to provide a safe home, school, and neighborhood. It's hard enough under "normal" circumstances. This community, like any other in this situation, needs a "heads up" for information such as noted above.
This information can be found on the Megan's Law of PA Website hosted by the PA State Police.
Just do a search for Megan's Law of PA, and you will see PA's site. You then have to accept the terms of the website to view all registered sex offenders.
This site must be used with integrity, and the offender can not be harrassed, which is why the school cannot put this information on their website.
All you have to do when you visit the site is put in your zip code, and it will automatically pull up the registered offenders.
It's unfortunate, but true, every parent must make it a priority to protect their own children. Time and time again, we've seen that others are just not able to do so, or allow these priorities to get pushed aside.
The Board hires an accounting firm to conduct its annual audit. If the auditor plays along, finding nothing criminal, the same accounting firm will be invited back next year for another audit.
Unless the taxpayer has access to several years of these audits and is wise to the tricks of the "modified accrual method", then the taxpayer will be kept guessing which of the three shells has the pea underneath. This allows a large Fund Balance that officials disavow exists. Each school district has a large Fund Balance because they are planning for large unexpected problems. Each school district having a large Fund Balance is a problem, but only for the taxpayer.
Dear George,
Your ability to explain the acrual method of accounting does not get a passing grade.
If I am reading your post correctly, you are trying to say that possibly that the school is playing an accounting firm for fools in its annual audits.
I hate to tell you, but this tiny little audit that the school is paying for is not worth any professional trying to play games with, and there is nobody in the admin or on the board that could out wit the auditors.
As for the same accounting firm being invited back: This audit is so small that few would even consider it:
Let us collectively get serious and debate some actual issues.
Isn't there a rule on the books that the school district and other governmental agencies are suppose to keep a minimum reserve of 6 - 8% of their annual budget.
I may be off on the percentages.
Several years ago, Ed and the state legislature were fighting about the state budget, and it did not get passed until late in the year and the state was not paying anybody. I thought that scenario is the reasoning behing keeping a reserve.
However, if that is all that the reserve(s) are for, then the reserve balances should not exceed 2million.
If however, the fund balances are earmarked for specific other reasons, bond sinking fund, capital school maintenance, etc., then the earmarks s/b identifiable.
Can anyone either support my claim or debunk it as myth?
no
Nice picture on the last page of the school's newspaper: Fashion Show, James Bond boys grabbing themselves. The newspaper should watch what they print. Kids do look at this paper. Did they all have to do it at the same time? Pretty strange.
Is there anything that is acceptable, or do you all just enjoy complaining.
Give it a break. At least complain about something worthwhile!
Okay, you got it.
The "pose" taken by the Oley High School boys on the back page of the Oley Valley Sentinel is not all that strange.
IT'S QUITE POPULAR IN THE GHETTO...
For the taxes we're paying, maybe we expected a little more than that. Who's to say?
hey 5:05...go to the dollar store and pick up a pair of magnifiers. I think you're missing the fine details.
“Isn't there a rule on the books that the school district and other governmental agencies are suppose to keep a minimum reserve of 6 - 8% of their annual budget.”
The state has a Fund Balance limit scaled to the size of a district’s budget expenditures.
In the case of the OVSD, their expenditures is greater than $19,000,000 and therefore, their Fund Balance % limit is equal to or less than 8% of the total expenditures.
The Fund Balance is the excess revenue over expenses or surplus remaining at the end of a fiscal year.
“Several years ago, Ed and the state legislature were fighting about the state budget, and it did not get passed until late in the year and the state was not paying anybody. I thought that scenario is the reasoning behing keeping a reserve.”
“Reserves” in the broadest definition of the term is for planned expenditures both present and future.
The General Fund’s primary function is for operational expenses, salaries, supplies, etc.
The Capital Reserve Fund is for capital expenditures only. It receives money from the General Fund by way of transfers approved by the board.
The Capital Projects Fund is for a specific project, normally financed by General Obligation Bonds. The board votes to create a CPF.
The problem that arises with these various funds is that a board can waste them.
Instead of using them for education, the tax dollars are diverted to wish list, non-educational pork barrel for political gain.
The effect of such action is to shortchange the students and to raise taxes unnecessarily.
TALK TO THE HAND
Thanks again Al for stating the facts about the funds. Hopefully the people/person asking questions regarding these funds will understand now. Thanks again.
Both the Auditor and the Solicitor are beholding to the school district. I recall another school district Auditor beginning the private meeting with only 3 school board members in attendance as follows, "We didn't find anything criminal, BUT...." Auditors never turn their clients into the government, and school board members are too clueless to know that the Solicitor will not back the Board but back the Administration. Taxpayers need a Solicitor, but Al does a pretty good job asking the right questions.
The photo in question was taken the day the water was turned off, the rest rooms were not able to be used.
to 5:05pm:
I will rephrase your question. Is there anything you consider unacceptable or is anything crass, disfunctional or debased OK with you? If it is then we need to look no further to see what the root cause of the problems are in Oley.
You need to clarify that comment in clear, plain English. I am sure you mean well, but your written comments are kind of difficult to understand.
Here's my opinion:
Everything kids do today will be placed under a microscope. Same as the Board, etc.
The clear thought might be this:
The Sentinel is a little newspaper which is created by our students, and distributed to each residence. Fun is fun and funny is funny. Until...you have a bunch of students dressed up for the school fashion show...clearly grabbing their crotches in the photo. Yes, it's kind of funny. Except for the fact that it's in a publication which represents our school. It's really not appropriate. And, the newspaper is clearly not edited by anyone with a sense of responsibility.
p.s. They're not too great at proof reading, either.
The Oley Valley Sentinel is a public relations tool of the school -- they pay for it. But it is presented as a legitimate newspaper. Very disingenuous.
..."who, or whom, is the "they" in "they pay for it"?
They...the school?
They...the Berks Mont Paper??(yeah, right?!?)
They...they taxpayers???
I think the students pay for the printing of the paper.
Oh, come on, the kids don't pay for it. It is my understanding the District pays for the printing.
The "They" is always the Taxpayers. Someone in an earlier blog mentioned the state needs to provide more money. Uhhhh, the state doesn't have any money unless it comes from the taxpayers (by way of state and federal taxes).
Actually, the kids DO pay for it. In the LONG RUN.
What about a no-tax increase? Lowering the mills is nice but we should of had a no-tax increase the past 3 years easy.
The article in Reading Eagle trumpeting the budget committee proposal to cut a tax hike is amusing on two fronts.
The attendance at board meetings is sparse by the public and press and practically non-existent at committee meetings. The headline of the committee’s actions is probably a testimony to the district public relations capabilities more than its newsworthiness.
Unfortunately, any celebration for the planned reduction in taxes is as premature as the commemoration of Act 1 by politicians in Harrisburg.
The board wants to increase millage to 23.46 mills from last year’s millage of 22.50. One mill generates approximately $650,000 of taxes. Therefore, the .96 increase means they want $624,000 of additional revenue.
However, the district has over $2,000,000 in Fund Balance alone.
The communiqué to the paper forgot to mention they have nearly an additional $2,000,000 of combined tax dollars sitting in the Capital Reserve and Capital Project Funds, as well!
They want $624,000, they have millions sitting in surplus funds…the math is simple.
They can have a no tax increase 2007-2008 budget and still have more than enough money for education.
To rub salt into the wound, the district unnecessarily maxed out their exemptions to the inflation index under Act 1 for more tax dollars.
This is another example of playbook politics. The art of throwing crumbs of tax relief from the table of plenty to a starving homeowner.
The board apologists will gather up those crumbs like pigeons in the park and tell themselves how lucky they are to have a board that "cares".
To imply that this tax increase is in any way a "tax decrease" that somehow benefits the property owners is the epitome of political double talk.
Now, let me see if I get this straight. The board IS RAISING taxes, but not as much as they could. This becomes a DECREASE? Give me a break. And maybe they have swamp land they want to sell us too?
This board sees itself as Benevolent Dictators. I see them as thieves.
Some in the OCC need a PR firm...because they sound like idiots at the board meetings
Hey, that sure leaves a lot to the reader's imagination, now doesn't it?
Why not print out the very short list of names of people that attend the school board meetings, and we can play "name that idiot?"
But, I guess that would not be very classy, would it? Instead, we will just have to guess which particular person comes off as an idiot.
Idiots, are you looking in the mirror again? You have brass ----- to say that the concerned citizens that are looking out for the interest of all including you sorry soul are idiots. You better think again before you call the OCC that or anything else negative. They are the ones that care the most and want to keep this board held fiscally responsible. Why is that so hard for you to understand? You better go back to behavior school. You have major problems. You are a very nasty person.
Did you OCCers see the beautiful sun shining today, or did you see a deadly, destructive ball of harmful gasses? I'm guessing you saw the latter!
:) ...It's me again!!
Dear Forgetful:
The board doesn't have swamp land to sell, they kept it and built the middle school on it!
Dear :)
Speaking of harmful gasses...
Welcome back.
Yes, I agree that this place is full of them, but they don't bother me and neither do your nasty comments! ;)
Keep Smiling!!!
:)
Dale all smiles is back. Wow, it is time to celebrate, NOT!
I remember when I was in 5th grade.
We saw it, but unfortunately it was marred by the pathetic attempt of the Oley School Board to look like avenging angels.
As a parent, every time we turn around, the school is sending home letters for money, for this, that and the other thing.
I think over the past year, our family has spent nearly $400 to $500 extra dollars, for field trips that are supposed to be paid for by the school if they want them to be counted as a day of school, white shirts, black slacks, black shoes for those in chorus, this donation, that donation, etc., etc.
It really gets tiring and puts tremendous pressure on the parents of children who really do not have the money to blow. How do you say to your child, I'm sorry son, we just don't have the money to send you on your field trip. We're sorry that you do not get to have the same experience that the rest of the children get to have?
What ever happened to a free education.
Doesn't exist.
...and I see YOU do, TOO!
I'm not Dale or RC or a board member..... yadda, yadda, yadda. I'm just a satisfied citizen who finds humor (and a little bit of pity) in your blogs.
:)
...and if I have anything to say about it, I won't ever completely grow up. ...probably the reason I'm smiling and you're not! ;)
I am all smiles and laughing at your stupid blogs. Show us some facts that you can prove the OCC is wrong! Oh that is right you do not have any. Everything that is being told on this blog by the OCC are the facts the board and this district gives us. For the past year or more you have not said one fact that can prove the OCC is wrong. We are the ones that are laughing at you. You are the one that cannot stand the facts being put on this blog. I am glad Al started this blog. Since Cappa only gives us 3 minutes to speak and then he makes faces at our questions, We can write on here and not see his expressions. It is great! God Bless the USA and please Lord help the ones that cannot help themselves.
Dearest Yadda Yadda...
Satisfied citizen? Mind if the OCC asks one question? How many children do you have currently enrolled in our school system?
Love
OCC
As for the black pants, white shirts, etc. The elementary school chorus sounded great the other night, singing the national anthem @ the phillies game. I didn't even know they had a chorus group!
Also made me think - school uniforms. Since they don't have any real form of gym class, and limited to next to nothing at recess, maybe we can put them in school uniforms - and save some money. Parents could have uniform swap days, and not have to keep up with the jones!
uniforms would be a great idea. For once in their lives, the children would appear to be equal.
None of your business how many children I have in the school system!
Why would YOU need to know how many children I have? Are you now the number of children in the family guru?
Sounds like you're fishing for someone to pick on again.
If you would like, I can produce all my receipts for what I have paid out this year for things at the Oley School District.
As I was stopped this morning on the Pricetown Road waiting for a school bus I couldn't help noticing the way the students were dressed to go to school. The boys had on tattered, baggy shorts and several of the girls wore skirts that barely covered their rear end. There is no way they could keep themselves covered when they are sitting in their chairs in class. I guess the administration has given up trying to enforce the dress code.
I think the ACLU and other civil right idiots ruined the dress code enforcement policies. There seems to be some idea within these groups that we are all equal, unless different. In that case then the minority wins, majority loses. That was exemptlified when the school in york lost a fight to teach about the theory of god's creation, etc. Obviously we are christian majority being dictated to by a non-christian minority!
However, the elementary school has banned flip flops and backless shoes - due to safety concerns!!!
There are sure gonna be a lot of people with feet problems when they grow up if that's the kind of footwear they're wearing in grade school.
Sure glad my mamma and daddy made we wear good shoes when I was little. But then, that was when the adults were in charge, not the kids.
God help us all.
"The board voted to transfer $471,431.07 amongst various expense functions. The business manager describes them as nothing more that budgetary transfers."
Isn't it a coincidence that the business manager is reshuffling significant amounts of money, and in a short time, we read about the board throwing us a morsel of tax reduction.
My suggestion, is to keep reshuffling, but this time use the millions in surplus funds.
Maybe, for once in seven years, the taxpayers win a hand.
sounds like 8:07 needs a nap!
OCC said.
"The board voted to transfer $471,431.07 amongst various expense functions. The business manager describes them as nothing more that budgetary transfers."
Please elaborate!
Are these transfers from reserve funds, which indicates that the district overspent/underbudgeted, or are these operating funds from the general fund.
If it is the first of the two scenario's, then it is not a simple thing. If it is the later of the two, then it is not news worthy.
Let me clarify that last statement to explain. Let's say that the $471,000 was for desktop computers. Scenario 1 -If those purchases were not budgeted, then they should Not have been purchased. Poor fiscal controls.
Scenario 2 - The computers were budgeted to be purchased, IT budget. When purchased, the requisitions came from the departments (library, music, math, etc.) and were expensed to those departments. After a review, adjustments were made to re-codify those expenses against the intended budget - not a big deal!
I have no idea which scenario took place. Also, I am not so nieve to believe it would be for purchases on something as legitimate as computers, but wanted to ask/comment in an appropriate manner.
Therefore, can anyone definitively identify the nature of the expenses/transfer?
The board can .... but most aways won't provide an honest answer to an honest question regarding the "taxpayers" money.
Banned flip flops? Now what parent would think that's a good choice for school?
Don't tell me about the poor parents that can't afford decent shoes. Head over to the thrift shop where you can find many brand new pairs of shoes and sneakers in various sizes...for LESS than the flip flops which are no longer "cheap".
OCC said.
The board voted to transfer $471,431.07 amongst various expense functions. The business manager describes them as nothing more that budgetary transfers.
“Please elaborate!
Are these transfers from reserve funds, which indicate that the district overspent/underbudgeted, or are these operating funds from the general fund.”
If it is the first of the two scenario's, then it is not a simple thing. If it is the later of the two, then it is not news worthy.”
The business manager described the funds as “budgetary transfers”.
$471,431.07 of expenses was put in the 2006-2007 budget. As a result, the board raised our millage from 21.50 mills to 22.50 mills.
Therefore, when the board overestimated expenditures by $471,431.07, it had the effect of overcharging the taxpayers by $471,431.07. This is a lot of money to miscalculate. It represented 73% of the 2006-2007 millage increase.
Unfortunately, misjudgments are part of a pattern. The state found $741,000 of additional revenue in the 2005-2006 fund balance. This was in violation of Act 48. The district had no reasonable explanation for the violation.
Previously, the Pennsylvania State Auditor discovered three significant problems in his audit of the district. Internal control weaknesses and pupil membership errors resulted in subsidy underpayments of $14,610. Internal control weaknesses resulted in questionable transportation reimbursements of $1,851,793. The administration had no explanation or justification for these revelations.
Finally, the state found the district violated state laws when they made investments in certain commercial paper for $27,075,261.
The continued recoding of expenses creates potentially serious problems. It prevents accurate tracking, budgeting, and auditing.
These are red flags.
If the new board members are smart, they should pay very close attention to the manner in which the district is administrated if only because they are liable.
Keep on laughing at me CS, baby! At least you're laughing! hahahaha
:)
Dear haha,
You provide something that all of the citizens of the Oley Valley truly need:
the inspiration for PRAYER
Dear 9:30:
Are you on the right blog?
CS
OCC, I read your response, but you did not actually answer the question. Were the transferred $'s - 471,k for 'unbudgeted' expenditures which were drawn from the capital fund reserve or were they budgeted expenditures that were expensed to functional units that needed to be re-coded.
Come on, Al, answer Rob's question!
New place opening up on the main drag. It's a costume shop! They should do gr-r-r-r-reat!!
“OCC, I read your response, but you did not actually answer the question. Were the transferred $'s - 471,k for 'unbudgeted' expenditures which were drawn from the capital fund reserve or were they budgeted expenditures that were expensed to functional units that needed to be re-coded.”
I think you confused yourself. The $471,000 was not “unbugeted” expenditures as you describe them. The business manager said at the meeting they were “budgetary transfers” which in and of itself indicates they did not involve the reserve funds.
Since they were 2006-2007 budgeted expenses that did not occur, the board overcharged the taxpayers for that significant amount. So significant that it raised our millage 73% higher than necessary.
This may not be newsworthy to some, more than likely those who feed off the system, but to the homeowner, it has meaning.
Especially since, we face the seventh consecutive year of millage increase with millions sitting in surplus funds.
From the taxpayers prospective, the transferring of funds from the Capital Reserve to the General Fund is not an issue unless it is spent on pork barrel instead of education to appease a special interest group.
When board members spend the Capital Reserve on wish-lists rather than education, then the reserve becomes a slush fund for them to be used to curry favor before an election.
The more pressing issue is when the board approves the transfer of money to the Capital Reserve.
The funds can only be used for capital projects and not for operational expenses.
The effect of such action is to raise taxes unnecessarily.
“Come on, Al, answer Rob's question!”
I certainly hope it was not a board member asking the question. They all should be versed on basic fund accounting.
All you people who argue with the OCC need to get off this blog. We know what we are talking about. We know the facts. You are all knuckleheads and we know the truth and if you want the school district to start preforming than you need to start paying attention to what the occ has to say.
What?
Listening to the OCC, now your talking!!!
You should of been listening to the facts that the OCC has been writing on this blog as they come from the directly from the district.
Believe or not is your option.
We would not make up these facts just for the fun of it and spend countless hours trying to inform the people in this district of what is going on.
Thank you Al for all the information you have given the people of this district. It is a real eye opener.
It is the facts and district information that we put on this blog. Not one person can say it is wrong when it comes right from this district.
Seems like Mr. Jacobs' response has silenced the left. They do not like someone who knows more than they claim to know.
Well, nobody likes that. That's why it's much better to know your facts, before you put them in print.
Al, we're glad you know your facts. Thanks for sharing them with anyone that has a few minutes to keep up with the facts right here, on our friendly neighborhood blog!
"Seems like Mr. Jacobs' response has silenced the left. They do not like someone who knows more than they claim to know."
I think you can describe the anti-taxpayers as lightweights.
Lightweights? Are we still in BERKS COUNTY?
HA!
Faith
Hope
and
Charity
That's the way to live successfully!
How do we know?
The Bible tells us so.
That post is a good way to start a Sunday, and every day.
And an interesting way to zip the lips of the roudy bloggers.
No zippin here, baby! ...just lots of reading and laughing! Oh so much laughing!!!
:)
Good job! It's always classy to laugh at religion.
Got JESUS?
Daniel Boone's taxpayer's advocacy group's comments on Act 1...Their problems are even bigger than ours!
(It is important that each of us first and foremost VOTE, and second, truly understand the Act 1 impact, to determine if we individually believe the legislation is best for ourselves, our community and our children and grandchildren. Frankly, I am disappointed that the school board did not follow the request of the tax commission study, and did not have a follow up reminder that the ballot question would be part of the primary, in the recent issue of the sentinal???)
As May 15th approaches, I wanted to let as many folks be aware of the ballot question that you will see in the voting booth. This concerns the proposed increase in Earned Income Tax (EIT) to offset property tax. Upon reading the question on the ballot, many will feel that anything to reduce property tax is a good thing. NOT SO REGARDING Act I!!! The fact of the matter is that a lot more folks in the DB school district will actually be paying more in EIT then they will realize in a property tax reduction. Furthermore, those folks that rent who have never had to pay EIT will now have to pay. A very small percentage of folks would actually see a reduction in property tax. But the reduction would not fill your gas tank! It is simply a sham from Harrisburg- so please consider carefully whether you would support paying more in your payroll taxes for a less than adequate relief in property tax. I have attached two articles that you can forward onto as many folks as you know.
The ballot question will appear across the state.
Also--if you are able to print out flyers to pass along to friends and family, I would encourage you in getting out the word. This is a non presidential and governor election year, so, it really depends on turnout and word of mouth to defeat this legislation!
Whether you vote for or against Act 1 EIT or PIT taxes in May, sign the petition to eliminate the exemptions to the inflation index spending cap on school budgets.
Eliminating the exemptions benefits ALL homeowners and is the only realistic option for any school property tax relief.
Petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/online/11622.html
From the book “100bull---- jobs”:
Blogger:
Download contents of your mind, even when there aren't any.
$$: Relatively small, but prospects for high-paying bull… job in the future are virtually assured.
The upside: This is one of the bull…. jobs you can do immediately, with no training and no prior experience. You can also become very famous, since the established media, increasingly devoid of excitement and ideas of its own, has taken to siphoning off daily blogging activity as a much better and more interesting alternative to actual news.
The downside: You need a full, daily dose of imagination, guile, bile, and people pouring nonsense into your head that you can repeat.
The dark side: Your skin glows an ethereal white, your eyes become rheumy and bloodshot. Hair erupts in horrendous places. You don't care. You are now nothing but a conduit through which pass all the rare gases of the universe. You are, in short, a blog.
the famous wish list was discussed at the last finance committee meeting. where were Al and Cindy when their expertise and opinions could have made a difference? At least he would have found out what extravagent items- like boiler tubes- were on it.
Hi Ho, Robbo.
to 1:26 PM The transfer was for the second of your scenarios. This was questioned by Al at the meeting and carefully explained to him. I guess he forgot.
I bet a lot of questions could be answered if the board meetings were recorded and run on the school website. After all, it is supposed to be of, by, and for the people.
"...After all, it is supposed to be of, by, and for the people..."
You are right on the $$$. Unfortunately the people fail to religiously attend public meetings whether at twp meetings, school board meeting, meetings held by the state reps. etc. Strong attendence will dictate action. Blogging will not.
It is the 'people's' responsibility to dictate to the elected officials, In person and Face to Face.
"This was questioned by Al at the meeting and carefully explained to him. I guess he forgot."
Seems he not only did not forget he knows more than the board.
Face to face and only given 3 minutes. It is not worth the price of gas and the time spent away from the family to sit in the stuffy board room and hear the nonsense. We have been going to board meetings for 5 years and nothing changes. Faces might change but that is it. Yes votes are 100% of the time. They vote and then ask questions after.
The only thing we know for sure is that the board likes to spend the citizens money on non-educational items.
Education comes second, third but never first in this school district.
The time will come when we get true tax reform out of Harrisburg and they finally start questioning the schools spending habits.
We need true tax reform now!!!!!!!!!!!
Harrisburg has heard us loud and clear in the past and nothing happened.
Oley has money hidden in different funds and they continue to raise our taxes.
If you got the big ticket wish list items why not share them with us on this blog?
Is the board up to spending even more money besides the track on some non-educational feel good item?
On another note: Some good does happen in this district: We had a beautiful art show at the Elem. school last Thursday. We should have a district wide art show. It seems the Elem. Art Teachers are the only ones that really put on a great show. It was wonderful.
Good Day!!
The politicians posture that people do not get involved in governement. The news media echoes the same lecture.
The truth of the matter is that government prefers the public to stay at home and not infer with the proceedings.
Nothing brings this reality to light more than the local school boards. A board room filled with citizens is the last vision the board wants to see when they have a meeting.
Discounting the "dog and pony" shows, people take time to attend a meeting because they are not happy with the governance.
The hacks defend themselves with silence or institute polices to prevent public participation.
Every once in awhile a board member blurts the sentiment of the others when he calls attendees "diatribes".
If you plan to praise Caesar, you will be received with open arms, otherwise you are not welcome.
For my two cents, name calling by any adult is anything but adult. Name calling by the board members, is pathetic. Permitting board members to be name callers should open a discussion concerning suitable conduct of current board members. Why? Because they were "voted" into office for the simple reason that THEY proclaimed a want, need, or desire to serve our community.That's quite commendable "if" that's actually what they do. And that's a mighty big "if".
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