I want to respond to the continued whining by so many that we cannot raise taxes during this difficult time. I say why not? As a school teacher my taxes have been raised a number of times in the past year. We just do not call them taxes. The state furloughed me last year; that cost me $350.00. I will not get my step-raise, which we receive for each year of experience, $70.00/month. I will not receive the pay promised for improving my students learning each year, a minimum of $750.00. Now the legislature is talking about another furlough this year, another $350.00 at least. Therefore, in the last year my “taxes” have increased at least $2,150.00 or $180.00 a month. To those that say that I should be happy I have a job I am but I have worked long and hard for this job. I have earned it; it was not given to me as a gift. On the other hand raising the property taxes $0.05 would cost about $7.00/month on a $200,000 house. I wish somebody would explain the math to me.
This was written by a friend of mine, John Reseigne, who is a teacher at my school. What do you think? All comments are welcome...pro or con.
31 comments:
I think that reasonable of a tax increase would not "hurt" people economically and could benefit the school system or whoever the tax was designated for. people would probably complain though since everything seems to be going up, food, gas, utilities, etc
betty
I think the tax would not effect people like they think or don't think it though correctly. & if it saved our teachers jobs, hours, days, whatever.. then absolutely Yes! It's crazy to 'cut back' on teachers and our children's education, when they're are so many 'wasteful' programs out there that our tax dollars pay for. That is so frustrating to me!
I sure hope things get better for All teachers! Great Post!
Hugs,
Coreen
Raising taxes is NEVER the answer...but only to the Representatives/Government that misuse our taxes...hence they must always seek tax increase.
The answer is 'Managing'/not misuse of our taxes.
As long as Americans continue playing the 'Voting Game', Government will continue to abuse their position.
you get what you pay for...i also suggest looking at what the tax money goes for...seems things like education tak a back seat, which sucks....
Oh Gayle! You are lucky I have to walk out the door in about 5 minutes because I could write a dissertation on this subject!! But let's leave it with this - teachers are sorely underpaid and under-appreciated. And as far as taxes, etc. - I think there needs to be better oversight of how the monies are spent.
Ugh - I need an explanantion as well!
I think it's the misuse rather than the raising of taxes that pisses people off.
I agree with those above who said it is not the amount of the taxes we pay but how they are used that causes people to protest increases. Teachers should not be penalized for the abuses.
We pay so little tax when compared with those in Europe, our gas is cheaper than almost anywhere in the world, and it's because so many people don't realize that our government has to pay for our schools, teachers, libraries, staff, and all the rest with something. When the economy takes a downturn like today, the money stops coming in. We lost a bid for a tax increase that would have been 20 cents on every $100 to keep our bus system. It didn't pass. It's depressing.
I have a friend who is a state employee, who will be forloughed 8 days this year, plus not receiving her union negotiated raise AND having to deal with property taxes that were raised. I don't think its fair that because she is a state employee that she is being penalized so much.
I recently saw a list of all the taxes that are in existence today, none of which we had 100 years ago. They tax everything and yet are always broke. The more of our money they get the worse they seem to get at wasting it.
My boss told me that in 2012 our health benefit package from work will be added on to our taxable incomes. We will be paying taxes on what those benefits are worth just like we had put the money in our pocket. Hey...SOMEBODY has to pay for the free government health care system that isn't really free. I don't know how this will affect retirees. Our country is in serious trouble and has been for quite a long while....not to mention whats being done to our environment. What will our grandchildren's offspring's lives be like? Oh boy...don't get me started!
It's the word tax. It just immediately invites criticism, resentment, and negativity!
I would gladly pay another $7.00 a month to aid education in any way I can. In our state....education is the first budget to get cut. It's pathetic. I have two sons and a DIL that are all teachers. I understand how hard teachers work and how much they deserve every penny they make and much much more.
The tax in our city is assessed to homeowners and amounts to about $800 a year in property taxes. I feel homeowners are being assessed pretty heavily already. I'm all for aid to education, but this property tax thing does seem to target one group a lot more than others. $10 a month, or $20 a month would be fine. It's the bigger amount on top of a property tax of approximately $10,000 already that I'm not so thrilled with.
Well, since you asked....
The services provided by government (roads and other infrastructure, education, disaster relief and so much more) are all more expensive than they used to be. As a nation, we need to be willing to pay the costs. "Cost-cutting" is not working.... Congress pushes costs down to the states, and they push costs down to cities, so property taxes rise, cops get laid off, teachers go unpaid, and bridges fall down. Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal gave speeches decrying too much federal government; since the oil spill he can't get federal help fast enough. Yes, Bobby, the federal government SHOULD help you...but it needs to help others, too, and it won't help anyone if you and others keep trying to dismantle it.
Yeah, um...that new math they are teaching these days? I don't get it either. I don't know how I am supposed to understand 2+2=0.
I agree with your friend wholeheartedly. Teachers are being laid off in large numbers, salaries cut, etc.
I'm all for robin hood's methods to even things out in the greater economic picture. Make the very wealthy pay, I say. We know this will never happen, though.
xoRobyn
I am so lucky to be living tax free...
My thought is that the teachers are the backbone of our society. After all, where would be without them? I think they need to get paid more and taxed less. They need to be appreciated.
I wouldn't mind raising taxes to support school teachers at all. Considering the importance of their job, what they're paid, and how they invariably dip into their personal funds for supplies, they should be supported wholeheartedly. That said, I hate to think of how much of our tax dollars are wasted--if only the government could use what we give them more efficiently.
I am a fellow teacher, so I think you know how I would vote!!
Teachers always seem to get screwed. And we NEED teachers!! I think teachers should get a break.
I've been out of the workforce here since having our daughter but I don't think that Canada has implemented as many cutbacks as you've described. Times are tough everywhere but this seems a little extreme, we all work hard, I don't think changes like you described would make us nearly as angry if we didn't see so much of our money wasted by goverment in the first place.
I'm with Dual Mom. So much of our taxes are spent on stupid stuff that I think people get their backs up when they hear "more taxes".
By diluting our educational process we are only cementing our own demise. Other countries are pouring money into their educational systems while we nickel and dime ours. We will pay the price sooner or later.
I think we need to find people who will stop being idiotic with our money and learn how to spend it wisely in the first place. If the state needs more of my money, fine, but I hate paying for other people's mistakes over and over and over.
Good Teachers are hard to find around here, and oh so very under paid!! I am glad my kids are grown but fear for the education of my grandchildren. So many cuts, losing good teachers, even our Paras have been cut in half for the upcoming year!
So glad you stopped by to say hello @ my blog! Thanks for commenting!
I agree with you. It is crazy. Unfortunatly it is only going to get worse. The gov. wants in all of our pockets. They can have the change I want my freedom and money back.
Never want to see our taxes raised; however, small sacrifices like this, especially now with our national debt so high, seems like it's doable.
Teachers in general just don't get paid what they're worth. That's for sure.
totally agree with you....Happy Saturday
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