Feb 11, 2005 3 min read

The article in the Feb. 1 edition of the Herald-Standard “Unlikely tax collector’s pay rate to be addressed this year” should be of great concern to taxpayers in the Brownsville Area School District. An opportunity to address the method of compensation for tax collection comes once every four years and it appears from the news reports that those who we have elected to serve on the Brownsville school board have decided to ignore an important issue.

Other area school boards have timely addressed this issue, however, the Herald-Standard reported that the Brownsville board had the issue listed on the board’s work session agenda but removed it without discussion during that meeting, and it did not appear days later on the agenda for their regular public meeting.

The Herald-Standard also reported that the school board president has no plans to now call a special meeting because the required five of the nine board members have not yet made the request. The school board president said he received only one call from a resident and only one person mentioned the issue at the monthly meeting adding that it would be different if 1,000 residents lined up to talk about it.

So exactly what is needed to address this important issue? Is it a special meeting or 1,000 residents lined up in the hallway? The answer is neither. Other area school boards timely placed the issue on their agenda and addressed the tax collection method of payment, our Brownsville school board did not.

The one resident, Ed Hazelwood, who waited for two hours and then spoke the sentiments of many of us Brownsville taxpayers, hit the nail on the head when he said that the school board members are engaging in a dereliction of duty and are irresponsible with our tax dollars.

Hopefully, our elected school board members will be responsible and act before the Feb. 15 deadline.

Angela M. Zimmerlink

Allison

The writer is chairwoman of the Fayette County commissioners.

Stop taxing seniors

We, as seniors, have been supporting our school systems since we were old enough to pay taxes. Our children and in some cases grandchildren have grown up and are on their own, and we are still paying taxes to support our schools.

If nothing is done to give us some tax relief we will be paying taxes to support the school system until our dying day. If our elected officials were sincere in giving us some tax relief they would delete this portion of our tax burden at age 65, and put a freeze on our current property tax burden.

As seniors, we have a heavy burden in our cash flow just paying for our medications, medical insurance, etc. Some of us have to balance our funds between eating and paying for medical expenses. We need urgent help.

John Sostak

Lemont Furnace