A_no_more

Boone residents: No more tax hikes

Sharon Spohn, sspohn@pottsmerc.com 01/24/2006

MONOCACY -- More than 100 residents packed the Daniel Boone School Board meeting room Monday night in an attempt to avert a school property tax increase.

Anthony Pomponio, resident and co-chairman of the Daniel Boone Taxpayers Association, told the board that a recent Web poll on Itsamity.com showed that 69 percent of the 240 people polled believe property taxes are a real concern.

"It's no surprise that the residents and taxpayers are not in support of a tax increase," Pomponio said.

He said he's heard many stories from residents about their struggles with paying for property taxes, but the one that caught his attention the most was a sign held by a 5-year-old little girl at the rally in Harrisburg in October that read: "Daddy, don't let them take our home."

Pomponio said many seniors have taken second mortgages to pay taxes while others that are retired are going back to work to pay for school property taxes.

He told the board the taxpayers' association would work with the school board.

"We will not shoulder another property tax increase," Pomponio said as the crowd erupted in cheers.

School board member and finance committee chairman Richard Fidler addressed some of the concerns raised about line items in last year's financial statements and agreed to form a committee with representatives from the board, district administration and the residents.

"We would be more than happy to meet with you and hear your ideas about coming up with ways to save money," Fidler said.

He assured residents that the board doesn't take pleasure in raising taxes.

"We do not sit here like maybe you think, and love to raise taxes," Fidler said.

Board chairman Alan Ross said the public is always welcome to participate in the budget process.

"That's why we have these meetings," he said.

Fidler did deliver bad news about this year's budget, which the district is preparing under the guidelines it must follow after opting in to Act 72.

"I do not believe we can do a no tax increase budget," Fidler said.

Resident Rich Martino said he is on a fixed income and after retiring two years ago, he found his expenses far outreached his income.

"So I had to go get a part-time job," Martino said.

He told the board that before he retired, he managed multi-million dollar budgets.

"If you go into the grocery store with $40, you can only buy $40 worth of groceries," Martino said.

"You're trying to outspend yourself with our money," he added.

Resident Helen Poole said there has been a 28.9 percent increase in taxes since 2002. She also said the millage has gone from 5.5 to 24.5 mills in three years.

Over nine years, the school property taxes have gone up 81 percent, according to Poole.

David Poole read comments written by state Rep. Dennis Leh, R-130th Dist., who said he could not be at the meeting because he was in legislative session in Harrisburg.

In his letter, Leh said he is concerned from a personal perspective as a resident and taxpayer and that the tax increase would affect many people.

He said that he remains confident that there will be meaningful legislation and regrets that the result to date has been far from satisfactory.

Leh ended his letter saying that it's the responsibility of legislators and the local school board to protect homeowners.

Resident Greg Ruber said he just moved to the district weeks ago and said it seems a lot of money is being spent on new schools.

Costs to reimburse teachers for educational credits was also under fire from one local taxpayer who teaches for a private school.

Alicia Starns told the board she doesn't get reimbursed for educational courses taken.

"Some of these courses I've taken as an in-service at no cost to the district," Starns said.

Residents also a proposal from Wachovia Bank for an interest rate swap on the district's $36 million bond issue that could save the school district more than $2 million, with a one-half percent rate reduction from the current fixed rate of 4.95 percent.

reprinted with permission from The Mercury Newspaper