Monroe County Tax Intercept - Breaking faith with Constituents
I’m going to post the clips of the Democratic Caucus open forum. I’ll have them posted before the town hall meeting, next Tuesday, in Webster.
One of the many things that bothers me about the plan is the lack of community input. Listening again to the speakers that night as the videos were processed and posted - I came to fully realize and appreciate that this plan, as Dr. Manaseri says, “breaks faith with the constituents”.
From my perspective - I voted on my school budget back in May - it was an open process - I listened to the hearings, I approved my school budget. Other places in Monroe County - Greece immediately comes to mind - did not approve their school budget the first time. In those cases, the budget was reworked, went back to voters and eventually it was approved. The residents of the towns were involved. Schools disclosed the budget information, discussed it and the public voted on it.
Now listen to Dr Chris Manaseri- Supervisor of the Brighton School district. Chris is a soft-spoken man and you can hear him speaking in measured tones because Maggie Brooks and her lockstep legislature passed a resolution that rips the heart out of the covenant that a school district has with its constituents - namely - open access and involvement.
The clip is 5:23 - I posted it because it is worth a listen
My summary is below- followed by the clip
0:40 - the bill will immediately remove 600K from the school budget because the current budget was passed in in an open process with assumption that the sales tax revenue stream would be intact. (remember the 600K figure reflective on Jan to June 2008)
1:10 - the County has forced the legal action by the Monroe County School Board association.
1:40 - The cost to Brighton next school budget assuming no other changes will be 1.2 million dollars. So either 1.2 million is cut in services to children or Brighton Schools will raise taxes 2.8% simply to close this gap.
Think about that - a 3% raise simply to cover the gap or cut 1.2 million dollars in service - WITHOUT LOOKING TO IMPROVE OR ADD FOR THE FUTURE.
3:00 - The legislature is causing the school districts to break faith with its constituents.
3:40 - Adding insult to injury - Maggie has offered her efficiency team to solve a problem then created. I suppose that is like creating world hunger so you feel good about trying to solving it.
4:00 - Monroe County could learn a thing or two about managing their finances for the open school processes.
But listen for yourself.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/4AkBF5APrWw" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Related posts:
- Maggie’s and her lockstep Legislature’s Tax Intercept- Stealing from Dick and Jane and really upsetting Spot
- Maggie Brooks blows off Brighton constituents
- Monroe County Legislature Public hearing on Maggie’s Tax intercept - It is easier to find Waldo than a Republican in an open forum
- Whatever happened to Maggie Brooks’ faith-based initiative?
- Medicaid Intercept: Monroe County Gambled and Lost $6M
Someone created a petition at Go Petition regarding the unFAIR plan.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-monroe-county-taking-millions-from-school-districts.html
I like this practice of not only showing a video, but also typing out the highlights/points you want to get across.
Well done!
And Dr. Manaseri was my Superintendent of Schools, back in the day. Rock on out!
I know this is off topic but Rochester turning made waves at the candidates night in Greece. according to the d and c Greece blog diraddo said some uncomplimentary things about you. Congratulations.
I wish I could have been there.
agreed. keep up the good work.