THE ISSUE: New York’s statewide vote on district school budgets on Tuesday.
Congratulations to The Post for having the courage to urge readers to vote “no” to school budgets, even though the votes probably won’t tip the scale against the budgets themselves (“School Budgets: Vote No,” Editorial, May 15).
Too many knee-jerk parents equate higher budgets with smarter students and better schools. Anyone over the age of 12 should realize that is not necessarily the case.
While most administrators and numerous teachers will continue to rake in six-figure salaries, sending them a message is all that the overtaxed voters can do.
Jay Gerber
Syosset
*****
Your editorial on school-board budgets was timely and well-addressed. However, it didn’t go far enough in highlighting the real problem.
Voters have little, if any, choice over the largest expenditures in school budgets – salaries and benefits.
Voters are merely able to vote on budget items that affect things like after-school sports programs, prekindergarten and buses.
This well-designed scam can only be circumvented when voters are allowed to decide on a budget that includes all line items. Otherwise, this cozy relationship between the teachers union and the school boards will continue to drive these insane tax hikes.
I had enough of this madness and moved.
Roger Adelmann
Houston, Texas
*****
I find it very surprising that The Post has been able to fairly analyze the 700-plus school budgets throughout New York state, since it would not be fair to call for a “no” vote for all school budgets without doing so.
Your point is well-taken, but a statewide defeat is not fair. Many school budgets meet the needs of every member of the community, including parents and taxpayers.
Dylan Stolz
Great Neck