[arctichomesteader]

Personally I want property taxes abolished for residents and replaced with the income tax. Base everything off income and an ability to pay. None of these complex property tax formulas, questionable assessments, etc., for residents.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

Personally I want property taxes abolished for residents and replaced with the income tax. Base everything off income and an ability to pay. None of these complex property tax formulas, questionable assessments, etc., for residents.

Eh, that's problematic. It often means very wealthy people with large trusts and large houses/estates pay nothing because they have no "income". There are so many ways for the wealthy to avoid having "income" it isn't funny.

[miu]

The cost of a public education shouldn't be so high. IMO there should be a much greater effort to be more efficient and cost effective about the teaching process. I think that schools should take advantage of all the available free internet podcasts of lectures, documentaries and such. And the school teachers there to go over the material that has been watched and make sure that the students are absorbing the key points.

Also, why are textbooks so expensive? And why the need to upgrade to the newest edition every school year. IMO publishers of school textbooks are running racket and wasting everyone's money plus using up more paper than we need to be using. And that's not being very green.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Eh, that's problematic. It often means very wealthy people with large trusts and large houses/estates pay nothing because they have no "income". There are so many ways for the wealthy to avoid having "income" it isn't funny.

They have no wages but they generally do have income. Often capital gains. But this would involve so small a percentage of the population I think it can be worked out somehow. Property taxes are the most regressive tax there is.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by miu

The cost of a public education shouldn't be so high. IMO there should be a much greater effort to be more efficient and cost effective about the teaching process. I think that schools should take advantage of all the available free internet podcasts of lectures, documentaries and such. And the school teachers there to go over the material that has been watched and make sure that the students are absorbing the key points.

Also, why are textbooks so expensive? And why the need to upgrade to the newest edition every school year. IMO publishers of school textbooks are running racket and wasting everyone's money plus using up more paper than we need to be using. And that's not being very green.

Teacher salaries are a minor issue really. We have a large number of school boards, districts, and the supervisory unions. Administrative costs are absurdly high here. We don't need to cut teachers, their salaries, or even textbooks to cut costs significantly. We need to cut down the number of administrators.

[Riley.]

[quote=Biker53;52807308]Hallquists everything free for everybody platform is not going to win the hearts and minds of taxpayers who know that they're the ones who will have to pay for it. The whole identity politics thing will attract her support from people who don't care what her positions are but in the end people in Vermont usually go for the moderate rather than the extremist.[/QUOT

I hope you are right. I'm afraid the SJWs will vote for her simply BECAUSE she is trans, and not give full consider to the effect of any of stance she may have on issues.
I heard her say on TV that she believes the education finance system needs reform. Of course, she didn't elaborate.

[Riley.]

The low income people in our town, or the ones who have only one working parent but have 2 or 3 kids (or plan to have 2 or 3 kids) have no issue whatsoever voting YES for increases that will not affect them because of the one income household. I have no kids and pay more in taxes with my little house than people with 2 or 3 kids and a much higher valued house. And they have no problem calling me unkind and inconsiderate when I yell about another $500 year increase. The education financing system in Vermont is BROKEN and unless something turns around, I'll be another taxpayer voting with my feet.
On a more positive note, I saw something on the news last night about possible forced mergers in November. I hope this happens with our school. It's long overdue.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

They have no wages but they generally do have income. Often capital gains. But this would involve so small a percentage of the population I think it can be worked out somehow. Property taxes are the most regressive tax there is.

They often don't have much income. Or they can avoid income. Trusts they control have income. Their family foundations who pay for much of what they do have incomes. It's pretty easily avoidable for the rich, and if you structure taxes this way, a much larger percentage of even upper middle class people will move this direction.

Originally Posted by miu

Also, why are textbooks so expensive? And why the need to upgrade to the newest edition every school year. IMO publishers of school textbooks are running racket and wasting everyone's money plus using up more paper than we need to be using. And that's not being very green.

Lots of schools have very outdated texts, and hardly enough of those.

[miu]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Eh, that's problematic. It often means very wealthy people with large trusts and large houses/estates pay nothing because they have no "income". There are so many ways for the wealthy to avoid having "income" it isn't funny.

My husband and I are definitely NOT wealthy!! We could afford to buy an older property with a tired roof and needing updating of the kitchen and the bathrooms. But we could buy because we drive 15 year old cars and work 6 days a week. And we don't have kids. Property taxes are punishing those who tried to live financially responsible lives, unlike many renters who decided to have their many children young and before they established their careers... or got married.

We live very frugally, and it's hard to build equity in oneself when property taxes take any gains away.

I also wonder... if we didn't have to pay towards educating the children of renters and immigrants, the savings in not paying such high property taxes would allow me to actually retire and not even need my future meager social security checks. And yes, I do plan to work at least part time, until the day I pass. I like being productive. But I do worry about keeping up with my property taxes as I get older and don't feel like working 6 days a week.

I really don't care about maintaining the social security system. As it is, it seems to pay too much out to those on disability and collecting earlier. And I really don't want to pay for educating the children of illegals.

[miu]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Lots of schools have very outdated texts, and hardly enough of those.

I was thinking more of college level textbooks and how to cut down on college costs and college loan debts.

Otherwise, if grade schools need textbooks and other books, they should post online lists of what they need. I see so many unwanted used books, including textbooks, at the thrift stores I go to. One huge store only charges 49 cents a book.

And apparently Colorado is going to try going to a 4 day school week in order to cut costs. Part of the savings is in transportation of the students.