Liverpool — To the editor:
I’d like to respond to the letters from Lynn Davis and Fred Stoddard, which were published on page 5 in the Star-Review on Feb. 10 (“Tarby gives unrealistic view of school taxes, demographics” and “If enrollment is down, why are taxes going up?”).
They both pointed out that local “taxpayers” vote every year in favor of increases in the multimillion-dollar school budget. But “taxpayers” are not the only ones voting.
Thousands of people now live in apartment buildings all over the Liverpool school district. The tenants may pay rent, but they don’t pay property taxes, and their children get to enjoy a decent education paid for by the “taxpayers.”
We homeowners and businesspeople, we “taxpayers” could all oppose the school budgets every year, but sooner or later apartment renters will override us. In fact, they’re already out-voting us.
And where does that $142 million budget really go? Most of it goes to pay teachers and other school staff, along with their health and pension benefits. Big bucks. No wonder the teachers’ union has taken over the school board. They have to protect their salaries and pension packages.
Doesn’t anybody really care about the “taxpayers?”
Joe Romano
Liverpool
