No on J

Editor,

Porterville and the surrounding area continues to suffer through difficult economic times. Housing sales are slow, foreclosures are high and unemployment is still well over 10%. We find it hard to believe that in these difficult economic times, government on every level continues to ask for more and more money rather than live within their budgets like every private citizen is required to do. Proposition 30 (Governor Brown) raises personal income taxes and increases the statewide sales tax. Proposition 38 (Molly Munger) increases income taxes also.

Measure J (Porterville Unified School District) is also asking for the largest single school bond ($90 million) ever attempted in our area. This measure would increase property taxes for up to the next 40 years.

This new tax would be collected by the County Treasurer, not the school district, but is distributed directly to the school district. The County Treasurer is required to levy an amount sufficient to meet debt service without limit as to rate or amount.

Local taxpayers will be on the hook for an open-ended and undeterminable amount of taxes for years to come. And for what? No one knows for sure since there is no definitive project list. Do they really intend to purchase students iPads and provide free Internet service to all? Since when is it the job of the taxpayers to provide Internet service and PDAs?

Remember, that every dollar spent today will cost two dollars by the time it is paid back with interest. We all understand the value of education; however the income taxes from our shrinking tax base should be used to support the students and teachers directly. This bond clearly does not do that. Live within your budget PUSD; do away with the fat (like massive trustee benefits and bloated administrative salaries). Promising free gifts for a yes vote on a terrible bond/tax is an underhanded way to operate a school district. We are on an unsustainable path. We are taxed enough already.
Vote no on Measure J.

Jerry Pundt
Porterville