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Does North East School Board’s Proposed Tax Increase Require Our Oversight?

May 4, 2023 by Paul Crowe

As noted last week, the North East School Board has proposed a budget for the upcoming 23-24 school year that includes a 3.97 percent tax increase. This follows a 3.94 percent increase for 22-23 and 1.94 percent for 21-22. There’s a point when raising taxes may not be the best option, perhaps it makes more sense to adjust spending to match income.

Tonight, May 4th, the regular school board meeting will be held in the North East Elementary Center at 7PM. Every taxpayer in North East should be interested in seeing how their board performs, how the money is spent, how they conduct business and how well they listen to public input.

For a 3.97 percent increase, they should be able to show exactly how that was determined, what changes from previous years make a tax increase necessary and why no other adjustments are possible that would allow them to operate within their current budget.

A long list of rules

If you look at the agenda linked below, you’ll also find they have a very strict set of rules attached and among them I found this:

All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no participant may address or question Board members individually.

To tell the public who they may or may not question, indicates a basic misunderstanding among members of the school board regarding their positions and authority. That, in itself, could be the beginning of an interesting discussion.

The school board works for you and me, not the other way around. It’s time we start paying closer attention to make sure they haven’t gone rogue and attending the board meetings is how we do it. Stop by tonight at 7PM. Let’s shine some light on the board and see what it looks like.

North East School Board meeting agenda 5-4-23
Backup documents for 5-4 meeting agenda

School Board Proposes 3.97 Percent Tax Increase

UPDATE: I attended the meeting. The best that can be said is it was not a positive experience. Those trains in the news are not the only thing going off the rails. The next board meeting is May 18th.

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Filed Under: North East School District Tagged With: Budget, education, North East School District

  1. Everyone has the right to know what their government is doing.
  2. Transparency is expected in all government meetings and daily operations.
  3. Everyone working in the government works for, and is answerable to, you and me.
  4. All laws, regulations, ordinances, budgets, audits and other public records should be freely available, preferably online, for citizens to examine without special fees and paperwork before they can do so.
  5. When municipalities seek bids for contract work, all bid documents should be available online, free of charge. Printed copies, if requested, should be offered at cost.
  6. Agendas should be posted online a minimum of 3 days before public meetings take place allowing interested citizens an opportunity to hear discussions and offer input on matters important to them.


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Comments

  1. Glenn Craig says

    May 4, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    It should but legally as the law is written it has to be 5.9% before its a referendum on our ballot. It’s a shame district has 12+ million in reserves.

    • Paul Crowe says

      May 4, 2023 at 1:38 pm

      When I asked in the title, “Does it require our oversight?” I was not asking from a legal standpoint, but whether it’s an indication that citizens and taxpayers need to get more involved watching the board and closely examining the decisions they make and policies they put in place. Without supervision, the board may begin acting in their own best interests, but in ways contrary to everyone else’s best interests; parents, students and taxpayers.

      • Glenn Craig says

        May 7, 2023 at 11:35 am

        Exactly we have failed in appearing at these meetings. When started going on a regular basis 3 years ago. They didn’t like it and when questions are asked we get nothing back. Crickets

        • Paul Crowe says

          May 7, 2023 at 12:06 pm

          I personally witnessed that at the last meeting. During “public participation,” if a taxpayer has a question, the board simply stares back saying nothing. After they sit down the board asks, does anyone else have anything to say? If not, public participation is closed. The board does not answer questions during public participation. It seems allowing you to ask is all that’s required, they feel no obligation to answer. It’s quite amazing.

  2. Joan Bubna says

    May 4, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    I think the way they spend money is up for major ridiculous imposition on residents of North East and senior citizens. I get my mortgage payment raised every time real estate, school taxes and insurance rates go up. At this time of the economy people cannot afford this wake up

    • Sharon Jones says

      May 4, 2023 at 6:26 pm

      My school taxes are three times my township tax. They’re taking away from the children they say they’re there to protect and help. Seriously they are not thinking of the children. All this while having $12 million in reserve.

  3. Lisa says

    May 6, 2023 at 3:24 pm

    yes, every tax increase should be open for community input and a vote.

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