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Folks are right to view the proposed bond levy voter survey with suspicion. It's being conducted under the direction of the architects, who obviously have a strong vested interest in the results. Also, there are certain key questions that almost certainly won't be asked.
One of them is why those who are opposed to any building levy at all in the PLSD at this time take the position that they do. I'd like to know the answer to that one myself.
This billboard obviously is no substitute for a scientific survey. However, since we are unlikely to get one of those in any case, why don't we have a go at it here.
So, question 1: If you are opposed to any building levy at all in the PLSD at this time, why do you take that position?
I look forward to the answers. Make them as convincing as you can. People might be persuaded.
By Yosemite Pam
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Pickerington City Schools
Pam
This morning I read in the Southeast Messenger their report on the most recent Pickerington Local School Board meeting. The issue at hand was the 40 some students in Mingo Estates (which is in the Township) but continue to find themselves being tossed around by the redistricting. Obviously the City of Pickerington is responsible for this.
As we all see below the City of Pickerington has worked to improve the commercial tax base of the school and part of that work is to create infrastructure and roads to enable that growth in commercial development. These infrastructure improvements come at a great expense to the taxpayers of Pickerington. The Trustees are not responsible for any infrastructure and yet went efforts to build that infrastructure are made they still are not enough for the trustees.
So why are the trustees complaining to City Council about a non school TIF? Well I guess the first problem is that they want to shift the blame away from the other abatements being given that are not in the Pickerington School District. They also need a scapegoat. This is clearly spelled out in the posting below of official records.
Stop and think about what Harry Myers is talking about here. He is complaining about the city creating commercial development and little or no concern for the school district. Yes he does say he thinks it is positive for the schools but he had to be prodded into that statement by Mr. Wisniewski.
In addition, nearly half of the school district is in the Township. Along with the Township residents the trustees have now got another developer to withdraw another poorly planned commercial development application at Refugee and Pickerington Roads. Why because the Township can?’t on their own do ANY infrastructure improvements. They simply think they can snap their collective fingers and it appears one day.
On but the Township can issue TIFs but why should they? To guarantee a TIF if the Developer doesn?’t deliver then that would fall back onto the unincorporated tax payers. The only way the trustees can deliver on a TIF or any kind of infrastructure would be to have the unincorporated voters approve a bond or operating levy for this TIF. Could the Trustees promote a levy to do economic development? Probably but that would be the third rail of township politics.
The bottom line is that half of the school district residents are dependant one the other third living in the City of Pickerington.
As a former supporter of school bond issues I have come to the end of my rope with the Trustees and those in the unincorporated areas of the school district. I will from now on vote against the PLSD issues until the City of Pickerington has it own school district.
Learning from Groveport the only way that will happen is for the school district to get into some kind of academic watch or financial watch. Clearly then the state legislature will listen to our application for a city school district. Since the renewal of the operating levies are in the next year or so it is closer than most can imagine to forming a Pickerington City School district.
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My NO vote
Pam,
You and I have traded posting before over this issue. I have voted no and will continue to vote no until the idiots that are on the board realize I am voting against them.
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Need more concrete proof
I am voting ''NO'' until I see enough concrete proof that this is something that makes sense to vote for. How quickly we forget the efforts in the past that failed and then Mr. Ross ''discovered'' an extra $1,500,000 left over that they ''found'' to make a bond issue not necessary. I'm not sure I trust the PLSD Admin or School Board just yet.
By Anon
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