[NYLIER]

I was just thinking of something...what happened to Act 46 that was supposed to lower the burden of education taxes? Since they joined towns into unified districts, my taxes have only gone higher and they never closed the schools to lower the property taxes for us. One year my education taxes went up $500. They keep making promises they don't keep and the taxpayers get screwed every time. And they get away with it because not one person holds them accountable. The only people that benefit are the people working in the education system and it is just a smack in the face to hard working people.

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by Summerz88

The cruddy gloomy weather alone is enough to make me want to flee many days.
Nice weather days are few and far between.

Summers are why I stay. It can be heaven.

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by NYLIER

I was just thinking of something...what happened to Act 46 that was supposed to lower the burden of education taxes? Since they joined towns into unified districts, my taxes have only gone higher and they never closed the schools to lower the property taxes for us. One year my education taxes went up $500. They keep making promises they don't keep and the taxpayers get screwed every time. And they get away with it because not one person holds them accountable. The only people that benefit are the people working in the education system and it is just a smack in the face to hard working people.

And no one EVER votes school budgets down (although my town did once and I went to the pathetic meeting where they were nickle and diming what to cut). Part of this is we have an 'in person town meeting' so you have to show up to get a vote on town and school budgets and only about 10% do show up. People will not take the day off to attend and most of the people who vote on the school budget work at the school or have friends and family who work at the school, or newly minted graduates who are also newly minted voters. I'm sure a bunch of people go to FL, so they don't vote.
What's really pathetic is they generally try to get away with a voice vote, but I always stand up (as do others) and ask for a paper vote. Then the people on the dais count little pieces of paper. I don't even trust them to be honest.

[Summerz88]

Originally Posted by Riley.

Summers are why I stay. It can be heaven.

Summer was quite brief, last year if I recall correctly , few nice days we had I was in hospital but that was just me…wish they were longer.
Yes they can be wonderful.

[NYLIER]

Originally Posted by Riley.

And no one EVER votes school budgets down (although my town did once and I went to the pathetic meeting where they were nickle and diming what to cut). Part of this is we have an 'in person town meeting' so you have to show up to get a vote on town and school budgets and only about 10% do show up. People will not take the day off to attend and most of the people who vote on the school budget work at the school or have friends and family who work at the school, or newly minted graduates who are also newly minted voters. I'm sure a bunch of people go to FL, so they don't vote.
What's really pathetic is they generally try to get away with a voice vote, but I always stand up (as do others) and ask for a paper vote. Then the people on the dais count little pieces of paper. I don't even trust them to be honest.

Even when I went on Front Porch Forum and advised the public to look at the salaries and raises the educators were getting, some getting $7T raises on top of their already six figure salaries, didn't stop them from voting for the budget. And they are aware that the students are not getting the education they deserve didn't matter. I have totally given up.

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by NYLIER

Even when I went on Front Porch Forum and advised the public to look at the salaries and raises the educators were getting, some getting $7T raises on top of their already six figure salaries, didn't stop them from voting for the budget. And they are aware that the students are not getting the education they deserve didn't matter. I have totally given up.

I think at some point consolidation and/or regionalization will be mandated, when the tax base finally leaves for friendlier environs, the younger generation continues to move out, and people just don't move here (like CA)due to the tax situation and the liberal/progressive state government. Whether I will still be here is another question.
There is not talking to these people. They think that no amount of $$ is too much if it's for the schools.

[zendwa]

Wow. So what happened between the most recent thread before this ("What I love about living in Vermont") -- where many of you also posted -- and now?

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by zendwa

Wow. So what happened between the most recent thread before this ("What I love about living in Vermont") -- where many of you also posted -- and now?

A lot of people are realizing they're standing in front of a financial cliff in the coming year.

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by zendwa

Wow. So what happened between the most recent thread before this ("What I love about living in Vermont") -- where many of you also posted -- and now?

A proposed 20% property tax hike is what happened.
We still love living here. We are exercising our rights to complain about taxes.

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by Summerz88

Summer was quite brief, last year if I recall correctly , few nice days we had I was in hospital but that was just me…wish they were longer.
Yes they can be wonderful.

I consider summer from when the snow stops to when it starts again Like May to November. It's a technique I use. LOL