Dear Colleagues:
Tip O’Neill said
all politics is local. But so is all taxes and spending. It starts where you
live. To help illustrate that point, we present…
THE INVITATION
The Avon
Taxpayers Association will host a public conversation with Gary Mala, Avon Superintendent
of Schools, and other members of the school district’s leadership team, on Thursday,
March 28th, 7:00 p.m., at the Avon Public Library Community Room.
Under discussion will be the proposed
2013-2014 Avon education budget, as well as future developments and costs of
public education as we know it. The public is cordially invited to become
informed on issues related to our schools and the impact of expected costs on
property taxes. Your concerns and questions are welcomed.
THE CONTEXT
Ø The combined,
overall budget proposed by the Town and Board of Education is, as of this
writing, $81,764,717.
Ø Of that total,
the Board of Education’s proposed budget is $52,828,986.
Ø All of the above translates
into a mill rate increase of 2.60%.
Ø That means the mill rate,
if approved, will increase from the current amount of 25.65 mills to 26.32
mills, an increase of 0.67.
Ø Or, to put it
another way, you will pay $26.32 in taxes for every thousand dollars of
assessed personal property that you own.
THE CHALLENGES
[Obviously, just a few]
It isn’t fire trucks, road resurfacing, debt
payment, or day-to-day operations that drive mill rate increases. The
fundamental need for additional or “new” money is driven primarily by annual
salary increases and employee health benefit costs.
Binding Arbitration laws are dizzying in their
intricate timelines and equally crazy in invoking, but not actually defining,
“ability to pay.”
As future members of a civil society, students
are instilled with respect for democracy [“We, the People”], social justice,
and government transparency. Why, then, are they taught in a closed union shop
run by a monopoly that negotiates in secret?
Since enrollment in trending downward, when
will we see reductions in staff?
THE WRAP-UP
Gary Mala’s
presentation will last about ten minutes – the rest of the evening is yours.
Add your ideas to the mix for a lively Q.
& A.
Forward this to anyone you think might be
interested.
See you on Thursday, March 28th,
7:00 p.m., Community Room – Avon Public
Library.
With best wishes,
Flo Stahl, President, ATA
flostahl@snet.net