Unless complacent Franklin taxpayers make a strong stand, and soon, they face the prospect of getting steamrollered with not one, but two huge tax increases.
The first is to come mid or late-October when the Franklin School Board finalizes its budget and irresponsibly approves a school tax levy increase more than double the rate of inflation.
The all-but certain 5.6% increase in the Franklin school tax levy is
two-thirds the amount of the referenda Franklin voters soundly rejected in April.The odds are slim, but if a large number (and yes, that’s what it will take) of Franklin taxpayers does not contact school board members to urge them to reconsider and approve a more responsible school tax levy increase at or below the rate of inflation, a whopping school tax increase very close to the one called for the referenda will be imposed.
Here is
contact information for Franklin School Board members.If you objected to April’s $78-million referenda, you certainly do not want to see a tax increase that’s almost as big heaped upon you.
Once the Franklin School Board, unwilling to make cuts in consideration of beleaguered taxpayers and tone deaf to the loud and clear message voters delivered in April, approves that big school tax levy increase, then it’s full steam for another bursting at the seams referendum. Oh, it won’t be $78-million, but it will be substantial.
The same school board members who are going to hold you up next month plan to approve another referendum and attempt to rob you blind again next April.
This is the same school board that spent more money than it had to on a
superintendent search, then hired Steve Patz at a salary higher than Governor Doyle’s, with a directive to develop an expensive referendum plan and get it passed, unlike ousted superintendent Bill Szakacs.
Call it whatever you want, a 1-2 punch, a taxing two-step, or double whammy, you are being warned. This tax tidal wave is coming, unless you speak out.
Put the two tax increases together, and the result is sure to be a bigger wallop than the failed $78-mllion referenda.
That’s how they do it, folks. If they lose, they just come back again and again and again until they get what they want.
If next April does have a referendum on the ballot, there will more than likely be two Franklin School Board elections for voters to decide:
1) A replacement for outgoing Scott Bauer who is leaving the district. Hopefully, some residents who care about quality education without killing taxpayers will step forward and run (it is possible; just ask New Berlin).
2) Sue Huhn’s seat. Sue Huhn is one of the most zealous tax increase supporters on the Franklin School Board. I can’t wait to see her campaign spin next year. “Hi, I’m Sue Huhn, and I have never voted to hold the line on your school taxes.”
Just as last April, you have a choice. Get involved and make your opinion known with a simple, short phone call or e-mail.
The alternative is to sit back, and be hit not once, but possibly twice with big, big tax increases.
What’s it going to be, Franklin?
