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12/14/2009
High tax bill? Talk to Democrats in the Legislature
Yup, well I opened my tax bill Friday – how about you? Despite warnings from the press, Republican state legislators, FoxPolitics and the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, were you still surprised at the 6 or 7% increase (or more?) in the school portion of your tax bill?
My tax bill:
County (Calumet) Up .9% from last year
City (Appleton): Down 0.6% from last year
Appleton Schools District: Up 6.7%
Fox Valley Tech: Up 0.9%
Here’s what a friend wrote Friday night:
I'm a little upset after opening my tax bill today…. I'm not happy about the increase in the Appleton Schools portion of our tax bill. I know you warned us all about it back in October and now it's a reality.
Indeed. The time to talk about it was not now, but back in October, when the School Board approved the budget, 6 to 1, over the objections of many of us in the community.
So, two School Board positions are up for election. Is anyone out there interested in running? Get your papers at the AASD District Office and got out and get 100 signatures before January 5. Holler if you want help.
And if you want to complain about your tax bill, yes, talk to a School Board member or two. But more importantly, talk to Democrats in the Assembly (Representative Penny Bernard Schaber, Representative Tom Nelson) that voted for the terribly damaging budget this spring that took millions from our school districts. The biggest reason AASD had to raise taxes as high as it did was that the state sent $3 million less in state aids to AASD that it did last year. That’s a really big hit.
Lastly, just a note about the City of Appleton’s ability to hold the line on property taxes. The city’s total levy actually increased over 6.5%. Unlike Appleton, many municipalities have had to either cut wages and/or benefits or cut employees. That scenario didn’t happen in Appleton - because a big slush fund of extra money was available when the big downtown TIF came back on the tax rolls. That’s also a reason the school tax increase wasn’t even more than 6%. It’s hard to believe that City of Appleton contracts were settled for 2009 – a year in which inflation was less than 0% - at over 3% increases. The City will not have the luxury of an extra $6 million next year like they did this year.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
It is what it is, Jo. Get over it, or fix it. Taxes go up because spending goes up, and that's because campaign contributions fuels government spending. It does no good to complain about the effect and ignore the cause. Federal corruption shorts state funding, state corruption shorts community funding.
Jack Lohman (Mon Dec 14 07:59:55 2009)
When will you run for office - any office - Jack? When will you serve your city or state or country in that way? Or have you?
Jo (Mon Dec 14 08:06:15 2009)
At 72, Jo, I'm a bit too old. But you and others have a chance to fix the system, if you want to.
Before the next election your only option is to educate people about the "cause." It doesn't matter which party you support, the corruption is killing the younger generation. I'm not as affected, but to collect dollars from the special interests that fund their elections, the politicians are stealing from my kids and grandkids.
And you. Do something about it.
Jack Lohman (Mon Dec 14 08:21:46 2009)
I've served Jack, done more than just the complaining. Analyze legislation regularly. Attend budget meetings. Break the issues down. If you're so concerned about bought-off candidates, run on the local level, analyze a budget, take a position on wages and benefit packages, prioritizing services and adding new positions - or not. 72? No excuse Jack. Absolutely no excuse. Put your public service where your whining is.
Jo (Mon Dec 14 08:31:15 2009)
Or does government power fuel the attempt to control and channel that power?
Methinks Jack confuses cause and effect. Cut out the contributions, and you will tend to freeze the power where it is now. Politicians will STILL use your tax dollars to buy votes. And until we, the electorate become better people, better informed, until we stop believing in something for nothing, corruption will continue.
Ken Van Doren (Mon Dec 14 08:47:48 2009)
That's a cop out, Jo. Shifting the blame to me, who spends 10 hours a day battling the issue at both the state and federal level, is simply designed to divert attention from your ignoring the real issue. My battling it at the local level will only divert me from the real battlefield. No thanks.
If I were your age I would indeed run for office, and I hope you do again. The daily newsletter you provide is valuable, but I'd use your soapbox differently. The people you attract need to know what is draining their government.
Jack Lohman (Mon Dec 14 08:52:43 2009)
Ken, you are correct in much of your criticism but there is no way that you can justify the transfer of bribes as being a positive force in our democracy. Yes, people must get more involved in the election, but we must stop the payola.
Jack Lohman (Mon Dec 14 08:56:32 2009)
Jack, I suspect you favor campaign finance "reform," that is, taxpayer funded elections. Wait a minute! My (limited) donations to campaigns are carefully directed to candidates whom I believe will promote my causes and beliefs. A candidate who will speak for me gets my money. That's not corruption; that's not bribery. That's genuine American liberty doing battle against tyranny. Yes, some political donations are made to buy votes, and many tax dollars are used by politicians to bribe both politicians and voters, but taxpayer-funded elections simply invites new forms of corruption. As for me and my house, we will defend our constitutional right to speak with our voices and our pocketbooks.
Ron Zahn (Mon Dec 14 09:25:56 2009)
Ron, you are naive if you think your (limited) amount of money is doing any good. But so be it, send your cash.
And whether you send money or not, the elections are already funded by you the taxpayer, when the politicians dole out taxpayer assets to the special interests that really count, and when those corporations add their political costs to the price of their product and you rerimburse them at the cash register. You are already paying, and for both political parties. Not just your hero.
W.. when you finally realize that that's what caused the economy crash, give a look at why. Taxpayer funding already exists in three states, voted in by the people. And if "new forms of corruption" occur, they'll vote it back out.
You should review www.wicleanelections.org and see if you still feel like your constitutional right is being infringed.
Jack Lohman (Mon Dec 14 11:29:12 2009)
Jack,
Why is 72 to old to run for office? You're limiting yourself! Regan was elected President at age 69 and re-elected at 73!
Charles (Mon Dec 14 11:43:35 2009)
O, c'mon, Jack, my dad was 72 when he ran and won for school board. Don't use age as an excuse to be lazy.
emily matthews (Mon Dec 14 17:22:28 2009)
Did he really say "get over it, or fix it"?! Fixing it is exactly what Jo has been trying to do! Wow....unreal. Why would we just accept it (get over it) and move on?
Your age is no reason to hold back Jack. Go for it! I'm the one that wrote to Jo with my frustrations in regards to the school district tax increases on my tax bill. It was very disappointing to see the 6 % increase on my tax bill. All other taxes remained relatively flat or went down.
I wish someone with conservative values would run for school board and shake things up there. We need a fresh face that is willing to truly represent the taxpayers of the Appleton area. Any takers? Step up to the plate.
No I'm not interested, I'm too busy to take on the additional responsibility right now.
Chris (Mon Dec 14 18:35:45 2009)
Thanks for the encouragement, but I know my limits. I'm doing what I can, and I'd hope that the younger folks recognize what the real problems are and jump in to correct them.
Jack Lohman (Mon Dec 14 18:47:07 2009)
And yes, Chris, I said "get over it, or fix it." High taxes are caused by politicians giving taxpayer assets to special interests. Thus those revenues are not available to do the job at the state and local level, and therefore taxes must be increased. The ONLY fix is public funding of campaigns, and at $5 per taxpayer it'd be a bargain. So either fix the corruption in politics, or live with the results.
Jack Lohman (Tue Dec 15 08:33:49 2009)
i think tom nelson is the worst of the worst assemblyman we ever had. i request that mr. nelson tell the city of kaukauna should be told by tom nelson on every bill that was passed and how he voted on that bill. you will be surprised in how he voted. while he runs around the kaukauna area shaking hands and talking conservative talk, and while he talks the talk, he can't walk the walk. write tom and ask him to send you his voteing record on any bill passed in 09!!!
bob
bob recla (Wed Dec 16 13:59:58 2009)
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