Owego-Apalachin School Taxes Up 10%

 On Tuesday, May 17 the residents of the Owego-Apalachin School District will vote on the 2005-06 school budget. The proposed budget will increase taxes by almost 10%, with a budget increase of 4.35%. The O-A District spends $9,000 to educate a student as compared to $7,000 for a neighboring district. When close to 20% of the population of Tioga County can not even afford any health insurance, can we honestly afford a 10% tax increase?  

 According to the school district, the board of education adopted a proposed budget which offers increases well below the recommendation of their hand picked advisory committee. The committee recommended a tax increase of 8 to 12%. The last I knew 10% is not well below 8-12%, the school board must be using some type of new math to make 10 less than 8!  Please remember to vote on May 17. Besides the budget vote you will also be voting to purchase four new school buses and to elect three school board members for a three-year term. When you vote think of the children, will they be able to afford all the accumulated tax increases when it's their time to pay?