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The $55 million school plant levy as presented is premature — long on ambition but astoundingly short on specifics. The school superintendent and board haven’t presented us with enough facts and figures such as square footage of the structures, floor plans, blueprints, material to be used, bids or estimated costs for each school, a timeline for completion of construction and other information necessary to make a responsible financial decision of such magnitude. There is no way to know if construction is staying within budget and being completed on time. The taxpayers have no quantifiable data with which to hold those in charge accountable for how our money is being spent. I will be voting no on the proposed $55 million plant levy on Aug. 30.

If approved, the combined levy rate (the current supplemental levy plus the proposed plant levy) will be .00384. Supplemental levies provide about 30 percent of the school budget so they will continue to be necessary and we will be voting to approve another one when the current one expires. You may want to calculate what your taxes for these combined levies will actually be and keep in mind that property values are increasing and so will our taxes.

Many of our schools are at the end of their life expectancy and need to be replaced. I support doing so, but these upgrades can be scheduled over a 10-15 year time period that doesn’t place an undue burden on many taxpayers.

I suggest that we send this particular levy back to the superintendent and school board with instructions to take the time necessary to develop a specific and detailed proposal with realistic goals so that taxpayers can make an informed and educated decision on spending such an enormous amount of money. To approve this particular levy as presented would be akin to writing a $55 million check without knowing exactly where the money is going and without any means of holding those in charge of spending it accountable. I will be voting no on Aug. 30 and I urge you to join me.

EILEEN KLATT

Hope