Don't allow levies to tax us out of our homes

The West Muskingum School officials are only concerned about their agenda and don't care any more about the desires, needs or the lives of anyone else. And, for them to propose such a huge tax increase in these tough financial times is a slap in the face to the community. Their actions are especially unfair to the seniors who are living on fixed incomes and have lost thousands of dollars from their pension plans and the people who've lost their jobs from a business where they've worked most of their lives.

School officials continue to use friendly-sounding terms that usually begin with "It's only a few cents a day," or "It's only a few dollars per month," to make it sound like their levy will only have a trivial impact on people and say it's all about the kids. While, we all know that just isn't true. If all three of the school levies pass, the school officials will be financially set for years while most of us will be forced to make substantial sacrifices and adjustments to our budgets and lifestyles. I say there're too many people in our community who take pleasure in promoting every school levy that comes along and believe they know how to spend our money better than we do. Regardless of what your home value is, will you have the hundreds of extra dollars you will need to pay your property taxes? And, more importantly will you be able to continue to pay the new taxes if you or your spouse lose your job(s) or income(s)?

I think it goes without saying, if we managed our money like the school officials manage our tax dollars we would all be in the same financial situation and crisis they are in today. Please don't allow these people to tax us out of our homes. Enough is enough.

Steve Mitchell
Zanesville