School board candidates offer views on proposed tax shift
Although the controversial $35 million high school renovation project has been the focus of the 2007 election, the 11 candidates battling for five open seats on Uniontown Area School Board also addressed other issues during a recent debate with the Herald-Standard editorial board. The renovation project, supported by current school directors Tammy J. Boyle, Charles C. Castor and Susan S. Clay who are seeking re-election, has received some criticism on late from a citizens advisory group against spending the entire $35 million on renovations at the high school.
Incumbent Kenneth G. Meadows, who is also up for re-election, has spoken against spending all the money on the high school, as have the majority of challengers.
School director Nancy Herring, whose term ends in December, is not running, leaving one uncontested seat open.
Challengers are Paul H. Bortz Sr., Alan George, Janet Warchol Guthrie, Philip Holt, Grace Miller, Timothy B. Sandstrom and Vincent Winfrey.
All 11 candidates have cross-filed for the Democratic and Republican nominations.
Act 1 legislation
During the debate, which was divided into two sessions and broadcast on HSTV, all 11 candidates said they are against Act 1 legislation.
Last year, school districts were required by state law to form at least a five-member tax study commission whose members had the option to increase the earned income tax, create a personal income tax or recommend no change to the district’s existing tax structure under the Pennsylvania Taxpayer Relief Act, commonly known as Act 1. According to the legislation, the revenue generated from the proposed increased earned income tax rate would be used to reduce taxes on qualified residential and farmstead properties.
The majority of candidates referred to Act 1 as a tax shift, and all candidates said the legislation provided no tax relief for most people.
Incumbents Boyle, Castor, Clay and Meadows said Act 1 is an example of poor legislation at the state level and urged people to vote against it, but thanked the district’s tax study commission and said the members did an excellent job.
“It’s nothing but a tax shifting. Vote no,” Castor said, noting that the only people it will benefit are people like him, senior citizens with no earned income who own their homes. The majority of people will pay more money in earned income tax than they get in property relief, he said.
Challengers Bortz, George, Guthrie, Holt, Miller, Sandstrom and Winfrey also said Act 1 is poor legislation from Harrisburg and urged people to vote no.
“We need to take the burden off senior citizens without placing all the burden on people earning money,” Sandstrom said. “Vote no.”
Winfrey agreed with him, saying only the working people will be burdened by Act 1.
“I think everyone should pay,” he said.
Closing remarks
If elected, Bortz said he would serve to the best of his knowledge and ability and act in a businesslike manner.
Boyle and Clay said a lot of “misinformation” and “misconceptions” have recently been spread, both saying they have the best interest of the students and taxpayers at heart.
“It’s not like remodeling a house or business where you can go in and do what you want. There are certain standards you have to meet,” Clay said, noting the $35 million building fund can only be used to pay for construction.
Boyle said taxes have only been raised 1.5 mills during her eight-year tenure, primarily to keep up with inflation.
“We’ve made a lot of strives,” she said, noting that the current school board has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the years and has already renovated several school buildings.
Castor said the upcoming election has centered on the high school renovation project, but said the school district is facing other issues that also must be addressed.
“I am not a one-issue school director. I care, and there are other problems that need dealt with,” he said, noting that he never missed a school board meeting during his tenure.
George said the school board needs to be more fiscally responsible, saying choices made now will affect taxpayers 10 to 20 years from now and that the $35 million should be used to repair all the schools in the district that still need renovations.
If elected, Guthrie said she will make responsible decisions that will best benefit both students and taxpayers.
Holt said he would like to see the curriculum improved and said the district needs to continue hiring good teachers.
Likewise, Meadows said he would focus on curriculum and student achievement. He also said he would work to keep health care costs down for district employees, noting that the cost of hospitalization is “out of sight.”
Miller, noting that she is not a politician, said she speaks from her heart and wants to help students and taxpayers who live in the school district.
Saying he believes the high school can be a “state-of-the-art building at a reasonable cost,” Sandstrom reaffirmed that he is against spending $35 million on high school renovations alone.
If elected, Winfrey said education would be his primary focus, particularly mentioning the importance of literacy.
“I’d do everything in my ability to help students in the Uniontown area be the best they can be,” Winfrey said, noting that a new high school would be nice but not necessary. “Classrooms don’t teach, teachers teach,” he said.