Liverpool — To the editor:

Just finished reading the column by Russ Tarby in the Star-Review about our high school taxes in the county [“Consensus kicks door open to future tax relief,” page 4, Feb. 3].

The one thing that was missing from the column was that, as taxpayers, we still continue to approve the school budgets that come up for a vote each year. Maybe it’s about time the taxpayers started voting down the budget and forced the school administrators and boards of education to find other ways to educate the kids that are more cost-effective.

As taxpayers, especially parents, we allow the board of education and school administrators to bully us into voting for an increased budget by telling us that our children will not receive the level of education they should thereby making us feel guilty about it.

For LCSD in particular, if the enrollment has decreased, why do our taxes keep increasing? To my way of thinking, less students should mean less expenses for the district. I will be voting against any future increases in the school budget for the rest of my life. I know this will have no effect in decreasing the taxes I pay but it’s my way of protesting the high school taxes I do pay.

Lastly, but most important to me, is that I am retired and on fixed income. I do not have school age children but I am still required to pay school taxes. At least I get some benefit of services provided from property taxes. I get no benefit from paying school taxes.

Frederick C. Stoddard

Liverpool