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Yahoo!Member Opinions:
By: Curious on 3/1/09
This is a real dilemma.
The schools are needed, building them now would put some people to work (do we have a clause in our contracts banning illegal workers?), cost of materials are down, yet the cost of opening and running the new schools is huge and ongoing.
On the other hand, the economic downturn has left many, many property tax payers, both residential and business, in a precarious financial position where a tax increase would create very real hardships.
The state, county and cities are still "between a rock and a hard place" because of our tax structure being based on sales tax and property tax rather than income.
This is a real dilemma.
The schools are needed, building them now would put some people to work (do we have a clause in our contracts banning illegal workers?), cost of materials are down, yet the cost of opening and running the new schools is huge and ongoing.
On the other hand, the economic downturn has left many, many property tax payers, both residential and business, in a precarious financial position where a tax increase would create very real hardships.
The state, county and cities are still "between a rock and a hard place" because of our tax structure being based on sales tax and property tax rather than income.
By: Macgyver on 3/1/09
I'm all for the "impact tax" on new homes. Make these new homes pay for the services they will require. With the powers that be, being builders and bankers thats a tough sell.
I'm all for the "impact tax" on new homes. Make these new homes pay for the services they will require. With the powers that be, being builders and bankers thats a tough sell.
By: barrettbear on 3/2/09
Our current workforce(people) has two needs: keep their jobs and pay their bills, and slated to have their debts paid by 2010. Will this happen seeing how the economy is in disarray?
Our current workforce(people) has two needs: keep their jobs and pay their bills, and slated to have their debts paid by 2010. Will this happen seeing how the economy is in disarray?
By: TimPowers on 3/2/09
The "impact tax" discussion is long gone. Our county/city leaders and the builders/developers/bankers put it off long enough that it isn't viable. Taxes on new homes would have helped starting in the late 80's and early 90's when growth outpaced property tax revenue. Boy, are we going to pay for not implementing the growth taxes now through high unfair property taxes.
The "impact tax" discussion is long gone. Our county/city leaders and the builders/developers/bankers put it off long enough that it isn't viable. Taxes on new homes would have helped starting in the late 80's and early 90's when growth outpaced property tax revenue. Boy, are we going to pay for not implementing the growth taxes now through high unfair property taxes.
By: TimPowers on 3/2/09
And the development fee of $750 (now $1500) was a bone thrown to pacify, not to curtail over building and the need for new schools.
And the development fee of $750 (now $1500) was a bone thrown to pacify, not to curtail over building and the need for new schools.
By: Gwendolyn on 3/2/09
All the county every needs is MONEY! It's always for the children. Let the growth and parents pay for all this or get by without it. Someone should have stopped all the "growth" years ago.
All the county every needs is MONEY! It's always for the children. Let the growth and parents pay for all this or get by without it. Someone should have stopped all the "growth" years ago.
By: TimeforJustice on 3/2/09
Gwendoly, everyone benefits when children get an education not just the parents. Who do you think the taxpayers of tomorrow might be? If they are uneducated, they will not be able to support you and your elderly friends when the time comes. :)
Gwendoly, everyone benefits when children get an education not just the parents. Who do you think the taxpayers of tomorrow might be? If they are uneducated, they will not be able to support you and your elderly friends when the time comes. :)
By: goodmom on 3/3/09
Here we go again with Mayor Burgess wanting to put a hold on things........He needs to put his office in a portable.
But Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess warned against the on-going cost of operating two more schools in the county system.
“We need to look at the long-term picture and reoccurring costs,” Burgess said this week
Here we go again with Mayor Burgess wanting to put a hold on things........He needs to put his office in a portable.
But Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess warned against the on-going cost of operating two more schools in the county system.
“We need to look at the long-term picture and reoccurring costs,” Burgess said this week
By: TimPowers on 3/3/09
"they will not be able to support you and your elderly friends when the time comes."
Nobody should depend on other taxpayers to support them. Depend on: 1st yourself, 2nd your own family.
As far as building the new schools now, I'm not sure that the argument of lower construction costs is true - Lowe's and Home Depot prices are about the same as always.
"they will not be able to support you and your elderly friends when the time comes."
Nobody should depend on other taxpayers to support them. Depend on: 1st yourself, 2nd your own family.
As far as building the new schools now, I'm not sure that the argument of lower construction costs is true - Lowe's and Home Depot prices are about the same as always.
By: vdanr on 3/4/09
This is my opinion... many of these things should have been addressed when the growth in Rutherford County first started. That was before the country/state was in a recession. That's why it's important to have short and long term goals and directives. Gwendolyn, I don't think anyone could have stopped the growth that we experienced. Is growth really such a bad thing?? I don't think so.
This is my opinion... many of these things should have been addressed when the growth in Rutherford County first started. That was before the country/state was in a recession. That's why it's important to have short and long term goals and directives. Gwendolyn, I don't think anyone could have stopped the growth that we experienced. Is growth really such a bad thing?? I don't think so.
By: TimPowers on 3/5/09
Growth isn't bad. Uncontrolled, unmanaged growth with little restraint is bad. Greed drove Rutherford County growth since the 1980's just like driving the stock market to 14,000. Just like greed is driving people to elect the local, state and federal officials we have today - "what can government do for me" is the question voters ask now (not "what can I do for the nation).
Growth isn't bad. Uncontrolled, unmanaged growth with little restraint is bad. Greed drove Rutherford County growth since the 1980's just like driving the stock market to 14,000. Just like greed is driving people to elect the local, state and federal officials we have today - "what can government do for me" is the question voters ask now (not "what can I do for the nation).
By: Farmall on 3/6/09
The ancient old Buchanan school holds about 4 times as many students as it was designed for. Of the entire 4th grade class only one classroom is in the building the rest are in the portables. (along with many other classes) Yet with its age and huge overcrowding it still ranks as one of the best in the county. I believe that we would better be served by a high school built in this area, instead of the dual bussing systems to get all the high school children first to Buchanan then transfered to Riverdale. We have more than enough need to support a high school in this area. A middle school would be nice, but I see a greater need for a high school on this side of the county.
The ancient old Buchanan school holds about 4 times as many students as it was designed for. Of the entire 4th grade class only one classroom is in the building the rest are in the portables. (along with many other classes) Yet with its age and huge overcrowding it still ranks as one of the best in the county. I believe that we would better be served by a high school built in this area, instead of the dual bussing systems to get all the high school children first to Buchanan then transfered to Riverdale. We have more than enough need to support a high school in this area. A middle school would be nice, but I see a greater need for a high school on this side of the county.
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