I am writing in regard to the School District 2184 Luverne school tax levy referendum. It seems again Gov. Tim Pawlenty has short-changed the state’s share of school funding. He has done this while cutting taxes for the wealthy in Minnesota, then saying he will not raise taxes. Perhaps pressure should be put on the state to pay more instead of raising our property taxes. When a private for profit corporation goes in the red it’s always wages, pensions and health insurance that gets cut while output is expected to increase in speed to make up losses.Unions are busted or striking workers are replaced with non-union workers. However, if it is tax paid workers in state unions it’s the taxpayers that are always expected to anti-up yearly increases in wages, pensions and health and disability insurance increases.Many school administrators receive wages of $100,000 per year and up. Most teachers receive $30,000 a year and up. The school year runs about 39 weeks minus a week for Christmas and a week for spring break and other holidays. Then that leaves 37 weeks of school at five days a week. This leaves about 185 days of school at $30,000 per year. That nets teachers right close to $162 a day. Not too bad is it?I am not trying to knock teachers or education, but we don’t get better education by simply raising wages and leaving no money for other things. We’ve all seen our taxes go up even if our incomes did not. When do we say enough is enough? Marvin KroontjeMagnolia
