I wish I were surprised
Our local school bond issue has gone down in flames.
I am usually really cynical about the viability of school levies and bond issues, but I'd let myself get my hopes up for this one, since this was such a one-shot deal (the matching funds from the state are now gone forever). I was hopeful that more of the students who stood in line in the fall would turn out again. Some did, but not that many. The board of elections had added two spankin' new machines, but the turnout looked just like it had for all the elections I'd seen prior to November 2004. Overall, voter turnout was less that 23%.
In fairness, I heard a fairly reasoned argument from a senior as to why he was not voting. He is only going to be living in Gambier for another few weeks, and then he'll be gone, to return only every 5-10 years over Memorial Day. He didn't feel right voting on an issue when he had no stake in it one way or the other. There were a lot of less-reasoned arguments, though. "It doesn't really affect me." The hell it doesn't. Where do you think the people cashing you out at Wal-Mart and Kroger went to school? "I shouldn't be voting to raise someone else's property taxes." Why on earth not? The numerous renters in the school district are allowed to vote - why can't you? Do you really think that extra property tax won't get passed on to you somehow?
Of course, this sort of logic is why school bond issues so rarely pass in my experience (and I have a fair bit of it - Mom was on the school board for years, and the only time they managed to pass a school levy was when they threatened the football team). People don't want their taxes raised so they vote no. People without kids (especially senior citizens, who make up the bulk of Mount Vernon these days) vote no because they don't see anything in it for them. People who have kids in private schools vote no because they figure they're already paying someone else to deal with these problems for their kids. Half the time, people with their kids in the public schools vote no because either the bond doesn't help their kid's school/extra-curricular program/favorite teacher in particular.
And, evidently, lots of well-to-do, idealistic college kids who "really hope it passes" don't vote because they don't feel like they'd be bearing enough of the burden.
*sigh*
garden progress: The lawn is mowed and the branches gathered. Unfortunately, we got some frost this morning, so I don't know what that means for the new hydrangea in its temporary housing.
house progress: Bupkus
what's for dinner? It's my last official night of class, so probably one last pre-class supper at Middle Ground.
posted by Alison @ 10:07 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
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At 10:46 AM,
tommyspoon held forth...
- In my experience, most school pass with no problems at all. Maybe some haggling over amounts and some brief nervousness about bond ratings, but that's all.
But I grew up in Fairfax County, VA and now live in Arlington County, VA. Both counties place high premiums on education, and fund accordingly. -
At 11:07 AM,
Alison held forth...
- Both are also relatively well-to-do areas, which no doubt has some effect.
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At 2:08 PM,
lemming held forth...
- Al - around here, it's the senior citizens who don't want to pay more intaxes and think that the schools waste what money they have.
Going in to vote the last time that a bond was on the ballot, one man told me that if they raised property taxes his mother would have to sell her house. "It's not like I can help her - I owe money on my boat." Priorities, people...