Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

in last weeks local papers, a man proposed an idea to the school board whereby the school system could still have extra-curicular activities, even if the levy does not pass. could someone explain why that mans proposal is not valid or fiscally sound? why the board will not consider it?

By seeking to understand

Pay to Participate

My understanding is that the gentleman quoted in last week's paper's (Mark Uher) - is more prone to cause trouble than anything else.

The Board Members I've talked with say it is being considered - Pay to Participate - actual playing time will still be based on ability as it is today. I also have heard they are working on the numbers - it costs an incredible amount to bus the football team & marching band to games & competitions - not an amount that can be easily split up amongst a small group of parents - they are working on what will work for Pickerington.

It is safe to say the blanket statement proposed at the school board meeting is one option but maybe not the fairest for sports that have less travel involved. Other options exist & are being worked through. I have found some of the Board members very approachable & willing to answer the questions I have asked.

By It's being considered

Why not

The ''man'' to whom you refer spent most of his time lodging personal attacks against board members, as has been his practice in recent years. Thus I, for one, no longer listen to him.

As the only board member to vote against eliminating extra-curricular activities, however, let me tell you why participation fees will not solve the problem. The Board now spends more than $1.7 million per year on extra-curriculars, on top of funds raised by booster clubs and the like. Even if we set participation fees at the highest levels that our consciences would allow, they would not raise more than $300,000 to $400,000, leaving us over $1 million short.

I had hoped that we could use our interest earnings from recent building projects to plug this gap. However, this would have bought us no more than one additional year. And we now need the interest earnings to make up for anticipated cutbacks in state funding.

We plan to institute such fees next year even if the levy passes. Even passage of the levy will not eliminate the need for austerity. To maintain good schools at tax rates people are willing to approve, given the PLSD's weak tax base and run-away residential growth, we must watch every last penny, and realize every savings possible. I think that we are all committed to doing that for the foreseeable future.

I think the school board and administration also are increasingly committed to lobbying other local units of government to build a strong commercial tax base and to seriously control the rate and density or residential growth. At least I hope that we have broken from the past in both areas.

if there are no sports

what will the costs be to not have any extra curriculars next year?
will the sports fields go to pasture - no mowing, no watering, no maintenence - or will they continue to be maintained?
will the commitments made by pickerington to be in the leage(s) not have to be ''bought out''?