How To Legally Pick Pockets And Keep Your Day Job

On Thursday, 28 September 2006, the voters of the central New York town of DeWitt were given the opportunity to control how much taxes they pay at the local level and they opted for more taxes.

Here's the background: The Jamesville-DeWitt School district is seeing increased enrollments. They need to expand and make building improvements.

So, the powers-to-be determined that $5.5 million would be needed to get the job done.

Now, it's one thing to know what you need and its an entirely different thing to actually get it.

If a private school needed to raise that amount of money they would conduct a fund raising campaign. They would approach wealthy benefactors and explain why donated monies are needed and how they would be put to good use.

Through skillful persuasion methods (no torture, no extortion, no bribes, no blackmail, no deception, no bullying tactics would be needed) the funds would be raised.

And, if necessary other fund raising tools would be used such as:

Bake sales;

Raffles;

Donated time from volunteers;

Donated items;

Auctions;

Bingo/beano parties;

Sweepstake calendars;

School band concerts where admission tickets are sold along with food concessions;

Pancake breakfasts;

Spaghetti suppers;

Bean suppers;

Dances;

House plant sales;

White-tie Gala Ball;

Raising the tuition;

Imposing a capital improvement fee to the tuition bill;

Charging user fees;

etc.

And the beauty of it all manifests itself in parents, of kids who actually attend the school, jump in and contribute...

Now, it's true that 100% participation never occurs but with sufficient prodding from the school's principal and from board members a surprising number of parents step-up-to-the-plate and things get done. But, based on my experience...

When it comes to public schools, the publicly subsidized school administrators have an easier way to get the cash flowing into their schools' coffers... just turn on the tax spigot.

In this way, you don't have to get parents involved, you don't need to remind parents that they are responsible for their children's education... no,

By taxing the overall population you force everyone to pay.

It doesn't matter that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are retired and aren't using the public schools to educate their progeny.

It doesn't matter that Miss Smith doesn't have kids.

It doesn't matter that Mr. and Mrs. Adams send all of their kids to private schools, pay their taxes and pay the private school tuition with "after-tax-dollars".

It doesn't matter that Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard no longer have school aged kids and aren't putting a strain on the school system.

No, none of that matters because they all have to pay taxes to educate somebody else's kid. And if they don't they risk having their property seized and risk imprisonment.

So, now that you know the background let's look at how well the citizens of Jamesville-DeWitt managed to control the taxes that they need to pay.

On 28 September 2006, out of a population of about 25,000, less than 700 voters voted for or against a school expansion and building improvement referendum to raise $5,500,000 through a tax increase.

The Jamesville-DeWitt School District Superindendent claimed the money was needed to handle increasing enrollments and that passage would only mean an extra $8 of taxes per year per $100,000 property assesssment.

The referendum passed with 520 votes in favor and 93 against.

According to the bureaucrats the State of NY would kick-in 70% of the school expansion and building improvement costs. But...

Question: Where does the State of NY get the money to pay for their 70% share? Answer: From Taxes!

End results:

Tax payers of Jamesville-DeWitt will be paying higer taxes;

The School Superindendent gets to improve her resume;

the idea that the State should be responsible for education of children is reinforced; and

greater burden is placed on parents who send their kids to private schools.

Now, while you digest that information, lean back, take a deep breath and thank your lucky stars you don't have to pay taxes on every breath you take.

Respectfully,
Gerard LeBlond
AboutYourWealth.com and SellinfoProductsOnline.com