AS INSTRUCTED BY THE BOARD, I SPOKE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING OF RUSD AND STATED THAT RTA SUPPORTED THE DISTRICT'S POSITION TO TAX TO THE LIMIT OF THE TAX LEVY. I SAID RTA WAS TAKING THAT POSITION BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAS RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP NOW IN THE PERSONS OF DAVE HAZEN AND JIM SHAW. THEIR PLANS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE DESERVE THE SUPPORT OF DISTRICT TAXPAYERS EVENTHOUGH UNFORTUNATELY THIS MEANS A TAX INCREASE OF ABOUT 80C FOR EACH $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
I SAID THAT RTA, LIKE MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, WERE ANGRY THAT THE TAX INCREASE WAS NECESSARY BUT BLAMED THE WHOLE SORDID SITUATION ON THE IRRESPONSIBLE LEGISLATORS---JOHN LEHMAN, COREY MASON AND BOB TURNER. THEY CUT STATE FUNDINGH FROM THE AGREED-ON 66.7% TO ABOUT 62% THIS CUT MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN UNIFIED'S BUDGET NEEDS AND RTA AGREES WITH THE DISTRICT THAT WE CANNOT SHORT CHANGE OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AT THIS TIME.
I URGED THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO REMEMBER THEIR ANGER FOR NOVEMBER, 2010. THESE THREE MEN---LEHMAN, MASON AND TURNER--DO NOT DESERVE SUPPORT AT THE POLLS, INSTEAD THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR BUTTS KICKED.
I GOT THE BIGGEST OVATION EVER RECEIVED BY AN RTA LIAISON SPEAKER DURING THE TIMES OF ERV AND ME.
Disregarding test results and student abilities, just looking at money, are we getting a good deal at Unified as its proponents claim?
Has Superintendent Tom Hicks done a good job in his five year tenure? Some say you need five years to see the results of educational programs. We are not sure why it takes five years to get educational results. But he has had his five years. What do you think? The Racine Taxpayers Association is not happy with his progress.
The Racine Taxpayers Association has supported 6 referenda in the past decade or so, the latest being June 2004. This year it teamed up with CARE to oppose the June 6, 2006 referendum.
