WHY ARE OUR SCHOOL TAXES SO HIGH?

VESTAL SCHOOL TAXES:

Why, with all the development in the Vestal area of route 434 over the past few years, with the tax base increasing dramatically, have our school taxes not gone down? (or has the Town of Vestal and Broome County given dramatic tax brakes to developers bringing in outside retailers at our expense) The sales tax revenue to the town should have increased dramatically also, where is this money going? The added retail stores in the area certainly do not add to the number of students in the district. Is the school board using some sort of new math to figure out the taxes or do they need new batteries in their calculators!

OWEGO SCHOOL TAXES:

Why if the school budget has only increased about 3% from hast year, has our school taxes increased about 17% from last year? There is no added expense for a new pool, or a large number of new students. Could be the school board is using the same new math that Vestal is using, or do they also need new batteries for their calculators!

TOWN & COUNTY TAXES:

It is now the time of year when the towns and county start on their new budgets for 1998 to decide what our taxes will be. Lets hope they don't use the same math as the school districts, and that they get new batteries for their calculators!