Dear editor:

Once again the school board is asking for your vote on a bond issue to improve our school facilities. They say they have listened and are now only asking for $19.5 million versus the previous request for $31.2 million. The two major issues they don’t emphasize are the facts that this request is for 25 years, as previously 20 years, and that this is only phase one. Want to hazard a guess how much phase two will be?

We are being told our facilities are overcrowded, yet we closed down a school building. This act was supposed to save $150,000 a year, yet none of the teaching staff lost their jobs and I see three school maintenance vans at the closed school several days a week.

Economic times are still tough. Upward of 35 percent of our population are on fixed incomes, unemployed or underemployed. Yes, people with Social Security benefits received a 3.6 percent cost of living increase in January. They, however, had seen a 15 percent increase in the cost of real goods and services since they had last gotten an increase.

Prior to the last millage vote, several people indicated to me that a millage increase would not impact them, as their property taxes were included in their mortgage payment. Not true — more than likely, mortgage payees and renters will pay up to double the actual tax increase.

I note several technology upgrade needs, including bare wires across the flooring. These conditions existed four years ago when the bond issue was first discussed. Amazing, four years later we have this problem, yet we received more than $1 million from the government to upgrade technology.

I also note this bond issue is scheduled when many of the fixed-income people have gone south for the winter, and there will be another school election in May. Further, this vote is tied to the Michigan primary election, which has a low voter turnout, as it is non-binding.

I also feel education is of utmost importance, but let’s be realistic — times are tough.

Remember, the middle school was built even when it had been rejected by voters.

Thomas C. Furner

Buchanan