One of the sad things about Leigh is the zero services available for our elderly in the community. There are no Meals on Wheels, no Senior Center, and none of the other services that would be so very useful and indeed vital to our over 65's.
As someone who has an elderly parent living in Leigh, it would be tremendously helpful to have a Meals on Wheels service delivering a good meal once daily. Older people sometimes don't have the ability or inclination to cook themselves proper meals. I have talked to many others who have parents either in Leigh or the surrounding rural area who have mentioned how great it would be to have some senior services for their mom and/or dad.
Lindsay NE is a town very similar to Leigh. Yet they have a complete Senior Center and also meals on wheels.
Yet the "school fanatics" insist on a vast and expensive tax support sturcture to keep up a declining and outdated school system.
However there is one aspect to all this that is inescapable and undeniable. And it is this: the only population group that is certain to keep growing in the future in small rural communities (like Leigh) are people over 65. And the one population group that is CERTAIN to keep declining is school age children. There is no denying this. All you have to do is just check the census records and any reputable population trend prediction or study for rural areas.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Saturday, September 26, 2009
District 39 Taxpayers Should Have Their Own "Tea Party"
The recent and widespread "tea party" protests have given me the idea that the District 39 property tax payers should stage a tea party of their own.
And there couldn't be a group of taxpayers who have more right to doing such a protest. Property taxes in the District 39 area are OUTRAGEOUS!!! And insult is added to injury when you realize that it is being used to support an OUTDATED and INEFFICIENT school system. A school system that only serves to support the vanity and selfishness of a small clique of "willful" people--people who are either stuck in the world of fifty years ago, or are selfishly determined to have a "local" school for "their" kids. Regardless of the tremendous population changes that are steadily reducing the school age population to nothing.
I mean, for cryin' out loud! There were only FOURTEEN students graduated last year?
And now, with the sinking economy, how can it be further justified to support such a BURDENSOME and EXPENSIVE property tax bill for people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Dr. Ehlers' concise and devastating report CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED the SIGNIFICANT cost savings of school consolidation! I know the "school in Leigh at any cost" crowd was probably squirming in their seats when the report was read, but the conclusions were undeniable.
So let's have all the people in District 39 who are FED-UP with the unjustifiable and OUTRAGEOUS property taxes to support an outdated school system have their own "tea party"!
And there couldn't be a group of taxpayers who have more right to doing such a protest. Property taxes in the District 39 area are OUTRAGEOUS!!! And insult is added to injury when you realize that it is being used to support an OUTDATED and INEFFICIENT school system. A school system that only serves to support the vanity and selfishness of a small clique of "willful" people--people who are either stuck in the world of fifty years ago, or are selfishly determined to have a "local" school for "their" kids. Regardless of the tremendous population changes that are steadily reducing the school age population to nothing.
I mean, for cryin' out loud! There were only FOURTEEN students graduated last year?
And now, with the sinking economy, how can it be further justified to support such a BURDENSOME and EXPENSIVE property tax bill for people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Dr. Ehlers' concise and devastating report CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED the SIGNIFICANT cost savings of school consolidation! I know the "school in Leigh at any cost" crowd was probably squirming in their seats when the report was read, but the conclusions were undeniable.
So let's have all the people in District 39 who are FED-UP with the unjustifiable and OUTRAGEOUS property taxes to support an outdated school system have their own "tea party"!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Protest Dist. 39 school taxes and you're an evil person
What gets me about the "school in Leigh at any cost" crowd is their tendency to demonize those who dare question the wisdom of keeping a school in Leigh, regardless of the tax burden on District 39 property tax payers. If you should dare suggest that you subscribe to the heresy that it is time to consider school consolidation and other measures to reduce taxes, then you are obviously an evil miserly monster who "hates kids" or "doesn't care about the kids".
Well--to that I reply "Isn't it time we start to care about the taxpayers a little?" And to which I would also like to add a warning: that sooner or later people are going to realize that these pro-school and "pro-kids" people are looking out more for themselves and their own selfish interests. Because there are more people in the Leigh district who do NOT have kids in the school then those that do.
Well--to that I reply "Isn't it time we start to care about the taxpayers a little?" And to which I would also like to add a warning: that sooner or later people are going to realize that these pro-school and "pro-kids" people are looking out more for themselves and their own selfish interests. Because there are more people in the Leigh district who do NOT have kids in the school then those that do.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
bad economy requires sacrifice from schools
With the worst economy in 30 years, everyone--both individuals and businesses--realize that it can no longer be business as usual. Everyone is making sacrifices and adjustments. Unnecessary expenses are being cut out, and everyone is trying to make due with less.
However, I still have yet to see any real movement to reducing the awful property tax burden imposed on the taxpayers of Leigh District 39. The small clique in Leigh who want "a school at any cost" simply refuse to see the changing economic climate.
The recent resignation of the Leigh Superintendent, together with the election of certain persons to the Leigh School Board, indicates a strong re-trenchment against consolidation. The recent consolidation movements seriously frightened certain people, and they are determined to not hear any such nonsense about school consolidation again!
However, despite how much they may hate it, we now must add a declining economy to the declining population of school age persons in this district. Additionally, the certain consolidation of the Clarkson and Howells districts puts Leigh in an exceedingly difficult position.
I urge everyone concerned about the high property tax burden in the Leigh District to let the school board members know that IMMEDIATE and DEFINITE reductions of the real estate tax burden need to be the first priority.
However, I still have yet to see any real movement to reducing the awful property tax burden imposed on the taxpayers of Leigh District 39. The small clique in Leigh who want "a school at any cost" simply refuse to see the changing economic climate.
The recent resignation of the Leigh Superintendent, together with the election of certain persons to the Leigh School Board, indicates a strong re-trenchment against consolidation. The recent consolidation movements seriously frightened certain people, and they are determined to not hear any such nonsense about school consolidation again!
However, despite how much they may hate it, we now must add a declining economy to the declining population of school age persons in this district. Additionally, the certain consolidation of the Clarkson and Howells districts puts Leigh in an exceedingly difficult position.
I urge everyone concerned about the high property tax burden in the Leigh District to let the school board members know that IMMEDIATE and DEFINITE reductions of the real estate tax burden need to be the first priority.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
some people in Leigh need to get out of la la land--consolidation is inevitable!
I swear some people in Leigh seemed to be cut-off from the outside world. They live in this little town and do nothing outside of it. They seem intentionally ignorant of the trends and what is happening in the world beyond the flyspeck-on-the-map called Leigh Nebraska.
We are going to lose the high school. Please get over it and move on, will ya?
This is no longer the 1950's. Those days are gone and are not coming back.
The population and economic trends are not going to change. As farming gets larger it will become increasingly hard for the "family farmer" with kids to remain in the industry.
There are no jobs in these little towns. Nothing to keep people of child bearing age in the community or to encourage young people to stay.
Clarkson and Howells are going to consolidate. This really puts the heat on the Leigh District to do something. We have no other allies, since to the west of us there are no other schools to join with. And there are none to the north or south until you get to Norfolk or Columbus.
Property and real estate taxes are outrageous, and 80% of it goes to support this dinosaur of a school in Leigh. Please do not force hard-pressed landowners to pay for your dreams of nostalgia and your "warm and fuzzy" feeling you get knowing there is still a school in Leigh.
School consolidation needs to be pushed forward relentlessly and with determination. And the primary consideration in any action plan should be to drastically reduce real estate and property tax burdens.
We are going to lose the high school. Please get over it and move on, will ya?
This is no longer the 1950's. Those days are gone and are not coming back.
The population and economic trends are not going to change. As farming gets larger it will become increasingly hard for the "family farmer" with kids to remain in the industry.
There are no jobs in these little towns. Nothing to keep people of child bearing age in the community or to encourage young people to stay.
Clarkson and Howells are going to consolidate. This really puts the heat on the Leigh District to do something. We have no other allies, since to the west of us there are no other schools to join with. And there are none to the north or south until you get to Norfolk or Columbus.
Property and real estate taxes are outrageous, and 80% of it goes to support this dinosaur of a school in Leigh. Please do not force hard-pressed landowners to pay for your dreams of nostalgia and your "warm and fuzzy" feeling you get knowing there is still a school in Leigh.
School consolidation needs to be pushed forward relentlessly and with determination. And the primary consideration in any action plan should be to drastically reduce real estate and property tax burdens.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
cut the crap! REDUCE TAXES!!!!!
Attending the consolidation meeting Jan 5 at the palatial grade school in Leigh, I was struck by two things:
the ahem-ing and ahaw-ing about moving forward with school consolidation
and--
the elaborate and extravagent new grade school facility--which we are already worried about keeping open!
Let me comment on the grade school first. As I was walking out, I noticed that there is a very conspicuous and self-congratulatory plaque by the front door, honoring the superintendent and the school board members and the architect who brought us the new grade school. I couldn't help thinking that they left some important names off of this--specifically the Leigh District 39 property tax payers who for the last 10 years have been hurting and continue to smart from the property tax burden this uneccessary facility has cost them.
As for the meeting itself--I find a lot of the people in this community have no sense of the reality of the situation. And that situation is that THERE CAN BE NO MORE JUSTIFICATION FOR A SCHOOL IN LEIGH!!!
"Why do we need to consolidate?" I heard lots of stuff from the superintendent about "being in the game" and "having an eventual say" if Clarkson and Howells consolidate. My only answer is "TO REDUCE TAXES"
worrying about "the identity of the first graduating class from the new school district". WHO CARES?!! REDUCE TAXES!!!
"Have we considered Lakeview?" "Have we talked to Stanton?" WHO CARES?!! REDUCE TAXES!!!"
"Will there be a grade school in Leigh and Howells?" "Will we have a high school in Clarkson and Secondary in Dodge?" "What is the situation with Creston?" WHO CARES?!!! REDUCE TAXES!!!!
"What kind of busing situation will we have? yada, yada...." "WHO CARES?!! REDUCE TAXES!!!
There is only ONE strategy! There is only ONE option!
REDUCE TAXES!!!!
the ahem-ing and ahaw-ing about moving forward with school consolidation
and--
the elaborate and extravagent new grade school facility--which we are already worried about keeping open!
Let me comment on the grade school first. As I was walking out, I noticed that there is a very conspicuous and self-congratulatory plaque by the front door, honoring the superintendent and the school board members and the architect who brought us the new grade school. I couldn't help thinking that they left some important names off of this--specifically the Leigh District 39 property tax payers who for the last 10 years have been hurting and continue to smart from the property tax burden this uneccessary facility has cost them.
As for the meeting itself--I find a lot of the people in this community have no sense of the reality of the situation. And that situation is that THERE CAN BE NO MORE JUSTIFICATION FOR A SCHOOL IN LEIGH!!!
"Why do we need to consolidate?" I heard lots of stuff from the superintendent about "being in the game" and "having an eventual say" if Clarkson and Howells consolidate. My only answer is "TO REDUCE TAXES"
worrying about "the identity of the first graduating class from the new school district". WHO CARES?!! REDUCE TAXES!!!
"Have we considered Lakeview?" "Have we talked to Stanton?" WHO CARES?!! REDUCE TAXES!!!"
"Will there be a grade school in Leigh and Howells?" "Will we have a high school in Clarkson and Secondary in Dodge?" "What is the situation with Creston?" WHO CARES?!!! REDUCE TAXES!!!!
"What kind of busing situation will we have? yada, yada...." "WHO CARES?!! REDUCE TAXES!!!
There is only ONE strategy! There is only ONE option!
REDUCE TAXES!!!!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Leigh Dam: Nothing to Celebrate!
The notorious and divisive Leigh Dam Project has gotten final approval and is now set to go ahead.
Apparently--according to the article in the Leigh World--there was a celebration held at the NRD by the dam supporters.
I will not go extensively into to the details of why we did not need this fiasco in the first place (waste of money, unnecessary, enviromental and social impact, opposition from the local community). However suffice it to say that this project--and the NRD itself--is part of the same wasteful tax and spend mentality as the public school system is in this area. And once again we see how a little group of willful people can add to the already burdensome property tax bill that property owners are forced to pay.
The people who had occasion to "celebrate" have nothing to be happy about. Before they pop the champagne cork, they need to remember that this hideous and outrageous "project" was forced through over the EXTENSIVE and INTENSE opposition of many in the Leigh Community. And also that much of the impetus was the result of devious and secret behind-the-scenes political maneuvering.
It has been said that the NRD is to ask the local high school to come-up with a name for the dam and recreation area. I strongly suspect that the original "suggestion" for this came from a certain Mr. P or a Mr. C , since it bears all the hallmarks of the cheesy self-promotion these guys are known for.
Whoever is responsible for this silly PR stunt, I have a suggestion for what the dam should be called:
The Eugene Heitz Farm Memorial Dam
At least by doing this, they will have acknowledged who is most affected by this dam. And who had to sacrifice the most on a basic level to allow this shameful and wasteful project to come to pass.
Apparently--according to the article in the Leigh World--there was a celebration held at the NRD by the dam supporters.
I will not go extensively into to the details of why we did not need this fiasco in the first place (waste of money, unnecessary, enviromental and social impact, opposition from the local community). However suffice it to say that this project--and the NRD itself--is part of the same wasteful tax and spend mentality as the public school system is in this area. And once again we see how a little group of willful people can add to the already burdensome property tax bill that property owners are forced to pay.
The people who had occasion to "celebrate" have nothing to be happy about. Before they pop the champagne cork, they need to remember that this hideous and outrageous "project" was forced through over the EXTENSIVE and INTENSE opposition of many in the Leigh Community. And also that much of the impetus was the result of devious and secret behind-the-scenes political maneuvering.
It has been said that the NRD is to ask the local high school to come-up with a name for the dam and recreation area. I strongly suspect that the original "suggestion" for this came from a certain Mr. P or a Mr. C , since it bears all the hallmarks of the cheesy self-promotion these guys are known for.
Whoever is responsible for this silly PR stunt, I have a suggestion for what the dam should be called:
The Eugene Heitz Farm Memorial Dam
At least by doing this, they will have acknowledged who is most affected by this dam. And who had to sacrifice the most on a basic level to allow this shameful and wasteful project to come to pass.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)