Poland is pulling the same stuff. "Nothing new. Just renew."
Well, it was a NEW tax originally, and they know that people will always renew when they've been paying it already. They just passed a beautiful 5.9 mill levy -- an EMERGENCY they called it -- to pay for the stadium they borrowed $2.3 million for. Be glad, at least, that Boardman will pay for it will donations and not have a huge mortgage payment to Farmer's Bank for the next couple of decades.
As for the roads and the water, they both suck. Walker Mill is like a war zone. We've bought water filters for the refrigerator, shower, and hose for the garage because the water is so lousy.
And, doubled, I'm NOT on Social Security, never had kids, and have been paying school taxes most of my life. We have kindergarden teachers making over $70,000 a year in Poland. Don't you think that's a little absurd? How much homework do they have to grade "at home." When does it end . . .
Thank you, BoardmanBranch. That is what they expect us to do -- bail them out of the mess they created.
It still baffles me how I run into so many people that still believe the stadium was built by donations. Only the track was, nothing else.
We don't personally know anyone who is voting FOR the levy, but I see on the bulldog's site that they have over 600 supporters. I recognize many of the names, and they are affiliated with the schools.
Unless you're one of the few homes that maintained its value, your home is already worth less than it was last year. Look it up on MahoningCountyAuditor.org and see.
mingodrs:
Thanks for the link to the "facts." Where do they talk about the sports complex they chose to go into debt for?
I did read that if this levy doesn't pass, they may do away with all extracurricular activities, including sports, so what will they do with that stadium? Will they just keep making those huge payments and let it sit empty?
I love the threat of "open enrollment," as if the administration and teachers would ever put up with that . . .
And, I'll just betcha there of plenty of teachers from all over (new grads, Catholic schools, city schools) that would LOVE to teach in Poland. Shouldn't have any trouble filling positions.
The same goes for Superintendents and administrators. You never see any of them quitting, do you?
We will be voting "NO" regardless of scare tactics, threats, ultimatums, or anything else they put out there in the next few days.
For the record, we used to vote for schools, but after the poor decision to borrow $2.2 million for a stadium et al instead of putting academics first, we're done. Now they need money for the real necessities, and we're supposed to just say "oh well" and hand them the money. NO NO NO
#1-So I will put the word "emergency" in the same place I put the word "Excellent (with distinction)" I don't care whose word it is - emergency means emergency which means this situation requires immediate attention. And, why is that? Who made decisions to put sports above academics? The sports complex was an avoidable expense.
#2-You make my point for me. Enrollment IS down since 1995, and the trend is continuing.
#3-The field house wasn't paid for yet, but they went ahead and finalized their grand plan to build the stadium. They could have said "No. Let's wait and see how things go since we know the state is not giving us as much money (back to #2 when Poland gets so much money per head)."
#4-Again, state aid is down, enrollment is down, bills (operating expenses) are always going up, so let's take out a big loan anyway.
Would you run your own finances this way?
As far as saying you don't understand "punishing the current students for the actions of past board members . . . current ones weren't even there when those original loans were approved?" that's kinda like what's going on in Washington, isn't it? That's the same logic being used to justify adding trillions of dollars to the national debt, and expecting "the children" to pay the bill later.
I misspoke. Before I get pounced on, I meant that if the 5.9 levy passes for five years, it will then become a RENEWAL. They rarely fail, so it may as well be permanent.
"BoardmanBranch, you can't keep harping on the $700k loan payment for that funded the stadium and MULTIPLE other infrastructure upgrades at ALL the schools. That ship sailed nearly A DECADE ago when those plans were put in place and now the loan needs paid off. So there IS NO $700k savings from that."
The loan WAS NOT taken out a decade ago. We aren't stupid.
Population has been declining in this area for some time. The enrollment statistics prove this. Yet, Poland went into debt anyway for sports instead of academics.
YOU figure out a way to pay for this. Don't expect the taxpayers to believe there is an "emergency" and we'd better pass a 5.9 levy for FIVE YEARS which will undoubtedly become permanent. After all - "they all pass eventually . . ."
Comstock: "The cold financial facts tell us that to vote against this levy is to vote for the decay and gradual destruction of the community in which we live. Poland schools are facing fiscal emergency."
We are in an "emergency" because Poland administrators, et al decided to build a $2.2 million stadium just a few years ago. Now we're in an "emergency"?
Our property values are already down - WAY down - from what they were ten years ago.
I also love that the Department of Education rates their schools. No bias there . . .
Per State of Ohio: "In fiscal year 2008, the District entered into a $3,000,000 lease-purchase agreement with Farmers National Bank to finance the eventual construction of a new stadium. The sources of revenue to fund the principal and interest payments are derived from general operation revenues of the District."
I ask you: Four years is not that long ago. Now, we have an "emergency." Why do people want to shove this poor decision under the rug? Those funds could have bought alot of "diesel fuel and textbooks."
If that loan had been used for ACADEMICS instead of sports, the levy might have had a chance. But to expect taxpayers to pay for BAD CHOICES is just plain rude.
Replacement and renewal levies on ballot for Boardman schools
olddude:
I'm with you 100%.
Poland is pulling the same stuff. "Nothing new. Just renew."
Well, it was a NEW tax originally, and they know that people will always renew when they've been paying it already. They just passed a beautiful 5.9 mill levy -- an EMERGENCY they called it -- to pay for the stadium they borrowed $2.3 million for. Be glad, at least, that Boardman will pay for it will donations and not have a huge mortgage payment to Farmer's Bank for the next couple of decades.
As for the roads and the water, they both suck. Walker Mill is like a war zone. We've bought water filters for the refrigerator, shower, and hose for the garage because the water is so
lousy.
And, doubled, I'm NOT on Social Security, never had kids, and have been paying school taxes most of my life. We have kindergarden teachers making over $70,000 a year in Poland. Don't you think that's a little absurd? How much homework do they have to grade "at home." When does it end . . .
April 24, 2013 at 12:26 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Change coming to Poland schools
Thank you, BoardmanBranch. That is what they expect us to do -- bail them out of the mess they created.
It still baffles me how I run into so many people that still believe the stadium was built by donations. Only the track was, nothing else.
We don't personally know anyone who is voting FOR the levy, but I see on the bulldog's site that they have over 600 supporters. I recognize many of the names, and they are affiliated with the schools.
November 2, 2012 at 3:25 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Change coming to Poland schools
devildog:
Unless you're one of the few homes that maintained its value, your home is already worth less than it was last year. Look it up on MahoningCountyAuditor.org and see.
mingodrs:
Thanks for the link to the "facts." Where do they talk about the sports complex they chose to go into debt for?
I did read that if this levy doesn't pass, they may do away with all extracurricular activities, including sports, so what will they do with that stadium? Will they just keep making those huge payments and let it sit empty?
October 31, 2012 at 10:51 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Change coming to Poland schools
I love the threat of "open enrollment," as if the administration and teachers would ever put up with that . . .
And, I'll just betcha there of plenty of teachers from all over (new grads, Catholic schools, city schools) that would LOVE to teach in Poland. Shouldn't have any trouble filling positions.
The same goes for Superintendents and administrators. You never see any of them quitting, do you?
We will be voting "NO" regardless of scare tactics, threats, ultimatums, or anything else they put out there in the next few days.
For the record, we used to vote for schools, but after the poor decision to borrow $2.2 million for a stadium et al instead of putting academics first, we're done. Now they need money for the real necessities, and we're supposed to just say "oh well" and hand them the money. NO NO NO
October 31, 2012 at 6:25 p.m. permalink suggest removal
No change, no levy support
Poland 21:
#1-So I will put the word "emergency" in the same place I put the word "Excellent (with distinction)" I don't care whose word it is - emergency means emergency which means this situation requires immediate attention. And, why is that? Who made decisions to put sports above academics? The sports complex was an avoidable expense.
#2-You make my point for me. Enrollment IS down since 1995, and the trend is continuing.
#3-The field house wasn't paid for yet, but they went ahead and finalized their grand plan to build the stadium. They could have said "No. Let's wait and see how things go since we know the state is not giving us as much money (back to #2 when Poland gets so much money per head)."
#4-Again, state aid is down, enrollment is down, bills (operating expenses) are always going up, so let's take out a big loan anyway.
Would you run your own finances this way?
As far as saying you don't understand "punishing the current students for the actions of past board members . . . current ones weren't even there when those original loans were approved?" that's kinda like what's going on in Washington, isn't it? That's the same logic being used to justify adding trillions of dollars to the national debt, and expecting "the children" to pay the bill later.
This needs to stop somewhere.
October 30, 2012 at 4:50 p.m. permalink suggest removal
No change, no levy support
I misspoke. Before I get pounced on, I meant that if the 5.9 levy passes for five years, it will then become a RENEWAL. They rarely fail, so it may as well be permanent.
October 30, 2012 at 1:28 p.m. permalink suggest removal
No change, no levy support
Poland 21:
"BoardmanBranch, you can't keep harping on the $700k loan payment for that funded the stadium and MULTIPLE other infrastructure upgrades at ALL the schools. That ship sailed nearly A DECADE ago when those plans were put in place and now the loan needs paid off. So there IS NO $700k savings from that."
The loan WAS NOT taken out a decade ago. We aren't stupid.
Population has been declining in this area for some time. The enrollment statistics prove this. Yet, Poland went into debt anyway for sports instead of academics.
YOU figure out a way to pay for this. Don't expect the taxpayers to believe there is an "emergency" and we'd better pass a 5.9 levy for FIVE YEARS which will undoubtedly become permanent. After all - "they all pass eventually . . ."
October 30, 2012 at 12:58 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Romney’s stance misrepresented
Comstock: "The cold financial facts tell us that to vote against this levy is to vote for the decay and gradual destruction of the community in which we live. Poland schools are facing fiscal emergency."
We are in an "emergency" because Poland administrators, et al decided to build a $2.2 million stadium just a few years ago. Now we're in an "emergency"?
Our property values are already down - WAY down - from what they were ten years ago.
I also love that the Department of Education rates their schools. No bias there . . .
October 27, 2012 at 11:39 a.m. permalink suggest removal
YMCA considers expanding into western Mahoning County
They don't keep the one in Boardman clean. There are people standing around doing nothing, so it's not for lack of employees.
I found a CLEAN place to exercise and have never looked back.
October 16, 2012 at 1:16 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Poland residents grill officials about proposed levy
Per State of Ohio: "In fiscal year 2008, the District entered into a $3,000,000 lease-purchase agreement with Farmers National Bank to finance the eventual construction of a new stadium. The sources of revenue to fund the principal and interest payments are derived from general operation revenues of the District."
I ask you: Four years is not that long ago. Now, we have an "emergency." Why do people want to shove this poor decision under the rug? Those funds could have bought alot of "diesel fuel and textbooks."
If that loan had been used for ACADEMICS instead of sports, the levy might have had a chance. But to expect taxpayers to pay for BAD CHOICES is just plain rude.
We will again vote no.
September 28, 2012 at 11:25 a.m. permalink suggest removal