OK, it's time to stir the puddin' a bit here, because the property tax furor is about to reignite. That salve that the Indiana Legislature tossed out hushed some voices for a while, but the uproar was about the cost, the burden of the tax, and that has not been addressed. From Abdul Hakim-Shabazz:
Marion County lawmakers got a briefing tonight on the property reconciliation bills that are going out this week and when it’s all said and done homeowners will wish their property was under 10 feet of water.
According to one lawmaker, “this is not going to be pretty.”
The briefing was conducted by Marion County Treasurer Mike Rodman. Residents will see very little, if any relief in most cases.
The lawmaker, who asked not to be identified said, “the people who were the most vocal last summer will be the ones who see the least amount of relief.”
That latter's real cute, isn't it? Well, many of these lawmakers may at long last find themselves unelected. Ask Indy Mayor Bart Peterson for some insights on it. Now, to the issue...
The base expenditure to come out of the property taxes are the schools. In any given county, anywhere from 50-70% of the property tax dollars go to the schools. In my county, Hamilton, it's 70%.
There were many reports in the Indy Star, USA Today, and other places, about the IPS graduation rates, being around 45%. This means that at least in Marion County/Indianapolis, taxpayers are dedicating huge amounts of money to the schools, which a majority of the recipients are REJECTING.
Maybe this is the right time to begin questioning the wisdom of education being publicly funded. If the recipients are rejecting it, and the people are crushed by the burden of paying for what is being rejected, then what in the hell are we doing? Are we just stupid?
3 comments:
Not stupid, just collectively blind, or hopelessly Pollyanna-istic.
Eventually, there will come a tipping point, where increased taxes make enough of a dent in the old home budget to get even Joe or Jane Couch Potato outside to do his (or her) best Peter Finch impression from Network.
Until then, politicians will behave in the same fashion that has proved successful for them previously.
OK, so what's the tipping point? I'd like to hear from supporters of public education on this.
As one of last summer's vocal contigent, I can provide the numbers that would seem to bear this out. See my latest post at Ed Angleton Rants.
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