| WDBO Local News |
Seminole Schools pass first vote of .25 millage increase
Seminole County schools approved the first of three votes for a quarter mil tax increase Tuesday night - an option that both Orange and Lake county schools chose to decline.
Lake Mary business man Steven Ogier told the school board that the .25 millage increase was both unnecessary and a bit greedy.
"The proposed increase is an easy yes, versus a very hard no."
Yet the Seminole County school board voted 4 to 1 to at least move forward with the millage option. After the meeting, Ogier felt as if the school board was taking the easy way out:
"I could go through that budget - me and probably four or five guys in about three days - and find plenty of operational efficiencies in there."
Seminole schools are actually in a $3.5 million surplus thanks to budgeting and the federal stimulus. Board member Diane Bauer says the whole thing leaves a bad taste in her mouth.
"If you increase taxes without voter approval - I don't know how better to explain it: It should not be done."
The board will still hold two more public hearings and vote two more times on the millage before it can be approved - July 28th and September 8th.
What others are saying
- unforgivableSo in other words the money that is taken from me will pay for the thousands that are still in the drop program(double dipping), the one kid that lives across town to be bused to a special school, and the schools that only have 200 or less kids? The seminole county school system is a joke. How is it that some of the top schools in Europe can get by with a fraction of the cost of what seminole county spends? The schools system needs to get rid of the waste before going after my hard earned money.
- Our Home is NOT an ATM Machine for GovernmentI agree with Mr. Salge, who posted on 7/1. Having lost my job as a TEACHER down in a neighboring county, I can say that my family is now living on about 60% of what we made before (while prices and bills keep stacking up) Our home has lost roughly 30% of its value (versus 2-3 years ago) Someone in government needs to wake up and understand that families these days can't just keep giving without end. It must be nice to occupy a vantage point like the one occupied by the Seminole County School Board: That homeowners are just made of money and that their homes are ATM machines available for 24/7/365 access at the whim of government.
- Millage rate increase for Seminole County schoolsNow we know who to vote out! Most residents I've spoken with feel the same as I do. Taxation without representation doesn't pay off. This is a discrace when we are all suffering price increases on everything we need and come in contact with. I don't buy that argument that it will only add a few dollars to our tax bill. It will add over $100 for me and a lot of other people who bought at the hight of the housing market and are suffering staggering losses in home value without any relief from the accessor and now adding this burden is insult to injury!
Good luck Seminole County Schools. You'll ultimately need it more than $.
advertisement
advertisement
Marketplace
From fast food to fine dining, find it all in our Local Business Directory .
Shop for cars, find a dealer, and get the latest automotive news in our Local Car Buying Guide powered by AutoTrader.comadvertisement
Stay ahead of the storm. Find evacuation routes, safety tips and more in the Hurricane Guide.
Don't miss your favorite TV shows! Click to get the latest WFTV Channel 9 programming schedule.
© All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Music Guide®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. 