A little empathy, please, for the taxpayers
To the editor:
The problems of board member Jeanne Dozer with her property taxes show the true dilemma of the Lee School Board and District. Facing a budget shortfall the solutions have been to cut programs, cut teaching positions and to suggest raising taxes of the citizenry in a time of the worst recession in recent history. Perhaps Mrs. Dozier’s present personal problems may help her and her colleagues to reflect and to took to other solutions already proposed and rejected.
They have rejected cutting the fat in the district’s administration costs and high-priced administrators including Superintendent Browder and his golden parachute. They also have rejected the concept of a referendum to move capital monies to the operational budgets. This has been done successfully in Collier County which is not facing the same problems of Lee County. Perhaps the voters would be more prepared to have the move rather than paying more taxes they can ill afford.
With one of their own having personal financial problems the board members can now possibly empathize with the average taxpayer and now begin to move in a different direction. The superintendent if he would take a pay cut and give up his golden parachute of $342,000 might also be able to empathize with the average voter. If there is to be sacrifice, good leadership would lead by example and show understanding of the critical times all are presently experiencing
John E. Traube
Cape Coral