Thursday, December 17, 2009

42 Supporters' Letter to the Editor 12/17/09: School District Has Earned Our Trust

It is understood that an informed public is the backbone of democracy. So when the public is misinformed, democracy is at risk, as poor decisions may result. But when the public is deliberately misinformed, democracy is being threatened. Last week's issue of the New Paltz Times contained an expensive full-page advertisement (complaining about money, no less, in an advertisement costing $800*, as much money as 60 months -- five years or 25% of the full 20-year total -- of the taxes an owner of a $300,000 home would pay for the middle school project) that was a stream of false information designed to create fear and compromise the public's good judgment on this important civic matter. So the truth must be told, so that it will be known and the public's ability to make its free choice is preserved.

1. The local taxpayers' portion of the loan, including interest over the 20 years, is not $80 million. It is $45 million. But even that number doesn't tell you what your personal share will be, since it doesn't tell you how many taxpayers it's going to be spread over. Factoring that in, the median annual tax burden for this project, which, like mortgage payments will remain unchanged over the 20 years regardless of inflation, will be $13.55 per month. That's the real number. And it won't start until 2012. This is a plan this community can afford.

2. There are not 13 years left on $24 million in debt. There are two years and $668 thousand left on one debt, nine years and $12 million left on another and 13 years remaining on $10.8 million. All figures are principal plus interest. That debt load is well below average for districts of our size. Our school district's credit rating is high due to the combination of low debt load and effective, conservative financial management, which enables our community to finance this project at the lowest possible rate.

The current middle school is certified by state-mandated inspections as considerably deteriorated and unsuited to contemporary education and more expensive to maintain than to renovate. The project is necessary. It contains no luxuries. It's projected cost is exactly average for school renovation in this region. It is affordable. Our community is being asked to ensure that we will have a middle school that meets the actual educational and physical well-being needs of our students at an affordable rate that protects the taxpayers from the huge ongoing costs of repairs and energy loss. It is being presented at a time when interest rates and contractor bids are coming in at historic lows. The board and administration of the New Paltz Central School District have earned our trust, respect and thanks for their sound financial and educational management and the two years of due diligence that has made this project ready for an honest, informed vote by district residents.

Brian Obach, Ilgu Ozler, Carol Richman, Celeste Cleary, Cordell Stahl, Jasmine Redfern, Ellen Marshall, Gene Fischer, Guy Kempe, Eric Schwartz, Stacey Schaffer, Jason West, Terry Dungan, Jenna Dern, John Bligh,Lagusta Yearwood, Lorin Rotzler, Rebecca Rotzler, Maria Davila, Marianne Sennett,Jonathan Sennett, Matthew Maley,
Mathew Swerdloff, Rachel Doldorf, Rachel Lagodka, Tessa Killian, Todd Quinlan, Wendy Baur, Josh Baur, William Weinstein, Eleanor Wolfe, Hector Rodriguez, Margaret Human, Michael Pardus, Karen Edelman, Nicole Lane, Peter Kaufman, Renee Brenner, Ariana Basco, Sadia Gilmour, Kim Sturgis, Mary Guirma

New Paltz, Gardiner and Esopus

*A similar full-page ad was run in the 12/17 edition bringing the total to $1600.

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