Don't Keep School Tax

The letters below appeared in the Rockford Register Star. Schools are not going to listen until more taxpayers and parents speak up. Bravo to these two Rockford residents for speaking up. McHenry District 15 residents do not forget that the school district is not going to return taxes they promised to return. Can you trust them to do the right thing with new revenues if the spring referendum passes?

Published: December 27, 2005

Letters to the Editor
Don’t keep school tax

Wake up, Rockford School District taxpayers.

The School Board asks that we vote to make a temporary tax permanent. Any time we vote for a temporary tax, it seems the taxing body gets used to it and cannot live without it.

I urge every taxpayer to vote no next spring. Many of us are just making ends meet and the reduction in taxes is considerable if this tax is not extended.

We pay some of the highest school taxes and have not received a lot in return. Yes, there have been improvements. The board wants us to believe that they are good stewards of our tax dollars.

I do not question their motives, but why is it that other districts are doing great without nearly that amount of taxes levied?

The School Board is hoping that you are used to paying and will want you to think, “I am already paying it, so it is not so bad.” Stop and think about that kind of reasoning.

We, as taxpayers, have the power to stop a tax from being continued.

Now is the time to start talking to your neighbors and urge them to vote no.

— David Draper, Rockford


Published: December 26, 2005

Letters to the Editor
Focus on education


Are junk food vending machines the schools’ most pressing issue?

The governor is concerned. I agree, as most parents would, that junk food isn’t the best for our kids. My concern is: Are we spending too much time and resources on this issue, when there are more serious ones facing our schools?

We need the focus to be education of our students, not just whether they eat a bag of chips for lunch.

— Diane Walz, Rockford