Comments for Early voting begins Saturday at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 16 out of 16 comments http://www.theind.com Wed, 22 May 2013 17:14:44 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23785 Whoever thinks that Scott Middle is in good condition has obviously not been to the facility lately. The roof leaks, there aren't enough lockers for the students (so NONE of them are being utilized), they have plumbing problems, bathroom stalls don't have latches on the doors, etc. According to the school, they also need upgrades to be ADA compliant (ramps, doors and/or hardware), electrical upgrades to meet code, asphalt problems, etc. Then they also state that they need more kitchen equipment and supplies (shelving, ovens, range, pans, dishwasher, hood), white magnetic marker boards, and install a new marquee. Really? Those sound like extras, not necessities. Here's where I have the biggest gripe with misappropriation of funds: Scott Middle has installed these Promethean boards (fancy electronic white boards that replace chalk boards) in almost all of the class rooms. They cost anywhere between $1K - $2K plus installation. WTH for? That money should have been used to fix up the school. Yes, they are fancy technology, but for an old school in need, it was a waste of money. And it continues -I saw empty Promethean board boxes out by the dumpster just three weeks ago. Here's another problem they stated in the paperwork they sent home on the proposal. Scott Middle is too small for the amount of enrolled students. Current enrollment is at 827 and the school's capacity is only 613. So, why are we still busing in kids from outside of our school zone?? Cut back to the capacity limit and allow those in the zone first, then a lottery to anyone else who wants to attend up to the 613. Wonder how much $ that would save us? - MyKidGoesToScottMiddle Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:33:30 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23443 Apathy towards our public schools is what has caused this problem to begin with. Lafayette is full of people that do nothing! There is apathy toward every aspect in this town which is why we now pay twice the price for less trash service just so we can have our "pretty blue cans" to line the curb. Its also why crime is on the rise, bullying is rampant, our roads are horrible and congested, etc. We elect and re-elect people to positions of authority and then don't hold them acccountable, we don't watch what they are doing, we let corruption and selfishness run amok! We've allowed ourselves to be cheated and neglected because we have not demanded more along the way! A great example is people who choose to send their kids to private schools --we have fled the system because its too much trouble to ask questions and demand responsibility from our elected officials! Why should we be forced to pay to send our kids to private schools when we have schools already?? Why are we saying its OK?? And yes, by choosing private schools and not demanding more from public we ARE saying its OK. Unfortunately, I have to agree that we NEED this tax in Lafayette Parish. I'm voting YES! I'm also demanding MORE! - Amberlynn Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:48:20 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23438 I'd gladly give up our school bus if I got exempt from paying school board taxes, property or sales tax! You gotta deal! We could have even more top notch schools if private school parents didn't have the LPSB Ping away tax dollars! - READMYLIPS Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:53:55 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23408 We could start with LPSS no longer paying for buses for private schools? That would save $1,000,000. a year. - ALL CAPS IZ KEWL Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:58:51 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23390 ragin et al, Broussard residents don't pay a city of Broussard property tax, but they pay a parish property tax like the rest of us. In fact, they pay the same slightly higher parish property tax that residents in unincorporated Lafayette Parish pay. If the LPSS tax prop passes, with few exceptions everyone who owns property in Lafayette Parish (including residents in the smaller towns) will pay a higher parish property tax. The exceptions, I believe, would be people whose homes are worth less than the $75K homestead exemption -- they don't pay a property tax -- and senior citizens whose millage rate is locked in. - Walter Pierce Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:43:04 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23389 Southsider-- Huh?! No property tax in Broussard? What you talkin' bout, Willis?! So this property tax levy is only for City of Lafayette and Unincorporated Parish residents? Broussard residents are exempt? They still live in the Parish, so they have to pay Parish sales tax. Do Broussard residents pay the current school board levy--35 Mills, I think it is? Because if not, I'm moving next week! - ragin_cajun Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:07:44 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23373 RC..you are correct. Should this tax pass, in 5 years, after my kids graduate high school, i'll be moving to Broussard(where the LUS provides clean water) since i won't have to pay property taxes and the LPSS tax or outside the parish. It incredible that LPSB wants to penalize ONLY landowners to pay for this tax. I'll be voting NO! - Southsider Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:45:27 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23369 ragin, I dont understand why there isn't a bigger fuss from business. I was disappointed to see The Chamber hasn't said a word against it... anywhere else they would. I know of a mom & pop business right now that this will cripple because their prop tax will double. She's worried to death about how she's gonna come up with it, since her mark up is very small, & what would happen to them if they're subjected to a slower year. They have an old metal building they do business out of. ,000 is a lot of money for a small business. I absolutely agree businesses will move to Vermillion or St Martin, & rightfully so. Lafayette, the city, could end up having lg areas that look like Detroit. All those skyscrapers in Laf could be half empty. My brother's business is near Scott. His lease includes paying the property tax. He's already looking for another place to have lined up. He's looking near Rayne, just down the road... You're absolutely right about business. He's who pointed out how old Scott Elem is, over 50 yrs, & how its been maintained thru the yrs. & continues to be a good building. - Morrow Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:36:06 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23354 My kids go to school in a building that is 102 years old. It's awesome. State of LA has started an online curriculum, and it's looking like kids and parents LOVE it. It's very possible that 20 years from now we won't need all this class space anymore. THAT'S progressive. And I think that businesses are more scared of high property taxes than attracted by new school buildings. Raise property taxes like this, new businesses will move to surrounding parishes INSTEAD of Lafayette. - ragin_cajun Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:09:35 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23350 I estimate I have donated more than $60,000 in property taxes for the school board in the past 30 yrs. I have no way of estimating how much sales tax $ I could have given to LPSB between personal spending & business spending. It is not my fault LPSB Pd it all away, robbed the maintenance dept for classroom sizes. LPSB is not willing to give an inch, save a nickel, make sure employees do their jobs - as in cut grass, clean buildings, etc. I absolutely believe schools have been allowed to run down. Whoah, SCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS A VERY, VERY OLD SCHOOL!!!!!!! It has not been torn down & rebuilt...??? Go figure. How do you think the community of Scott does that??? How do you think Iberia parish school system does it? A small parish like Iberia parish manages to maintain their schools without robbing the property owners... - Morrow Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:42:35 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23317 Lafayette High's overpopulation could be taken care of immediately. Get rid of specialty schools, & move the gifted program, viola, more room in the school! Start school in September since test scores have proven the extra weeks haven't accomplished more learning - actually they get more time off during the year, so that's a lot of wasted dough. Poof! I just released another several millions. Any problems with Laf High should have been taken care of long ago. I figure in the past 30 yrs, I've paid the LPSB close to `,000, that's as long as Comeaux High has had 10 or more butler buildings. LPSB could have built many wings in that time & Laf High could have been maintained. Acadiana High is as old as Comeaux High, just taken care of better. I cannot justify A BILLION FRIGGING $$$, crippling property owners, and business owners, raising rents for some of the least financially able citizens JUST TO MAKE SOMEONE ELSE A MILLIONAIRE with the construction or the consulting. Ex: I know a mom & pop business, pays $4000 a yr in prop taxes, and will now have to find $8000. This tax may close them down! VOTE NO TO THE CONTINUED WASTE OF THE LAF PAR SCHOOL BOARD!!! The "Master Plan" is bad for Laf's economy, an opportunity for the School Board to waste more taxpayer money, a HUGE tax burden for businesses & homeowners absolutely NO guarantee it will result in better education, and besides the money for schools IS already available if the LPSB would show good faith to the taxpayers. IBERIA PARISH WILL RUN THEIR SCHOOLS THIS YEAR WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE! - Morrow Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:41:07 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23306 I read the ballot and everyone should vote YES to fund the Master Facility Plan. Its Dedicated. Affordable. Progressive. Everything Lafayette wants and wants to be. - ElaineB Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:32:20 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23305 Lafayette High is well beyond the need for pressure washing and grass mowing. It was built before we put a man on the moon, built before computers were around. It's overcrowded, has electrical capacity issues, the walls are literally separating from the floors. There are no student bathroom facilities in one of the main buildings (300 building). It has drainage problems, sewage problems and you can clean the bathrooms until the cows come home but the concrete is almost 60 years old, you will never get the smell out. There are mold problems, ventilation problems, HVAC problems and the list goes on and on and on. The suggestion that this is a decades long conspiracy to bilk you out of your money is ridiculous! Its your fault, its my fault, its our parents and grandparents fault, its the school boards fault and the presidents fault and the fault of every student who ever walked through the halls. Now that we've cleared up who's fault it is, let's do something productive. Let's provide a top notch environment for our students and lets start attracting business to Lafayette instead of losing it to other cities because of our mold issues. Sorry to set you off Hope, just pointing out that you are misinformed and/or misunderstanding some of the things you write about. - ElaineB Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:30:55 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23257 Elaine B, my gut reaction is to be as nasty as you are in your tone, but intellectual inferior that I am compared to you, I resist that urge. Ma'm I am suspect of the school board, the proponents of this tax proposition who are rabid in their actions & words. And maybe, in my ignorance, its a result of that FINE education I rec'd in Lafayette's public schools. And I absolutely know this tax will free up money from the general fund and proponents are not stupid enough to say what future plans are for those funds. So Elaine, you can talk down your nose to me & I don't care. I know there's something sneaky & underhanded in this tax. I have seen Milton Elem & its in good shape. I have seen Broadmoor Elem and its in good shape. I've seen Laf. High's long grass and dirty buildings, nothing a little cleaning & painting couldn't remedy. I believe schools have intentionally been neglected in order to justify asking the public for a billion dollars. I will NOT support continued rape of the parish property owner & business owners for the schl board to trash the money away. This tax will not make the community better, it will hurt this community. - Hope Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:35:01 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23246 Hope--Perhaps you should use a dictionary next time you attempt to read something. You obviously don't understand what you read. The tax increase is to pay for the Master Facility Plan which clearly shows where the money will be spent. It can NOT be used for salaries which is plainly stated in the text. Also, where do you come up with the silly notion of hundreds of millions of freed up money??? How about you attend the public forum and get the REAL FACTS before you start pounding your fists again. - ElaineB Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:40:28 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9170-early-voting-begins-saturday#comment-23221 I read the ballot & everyone should vote NO to the LPSB tax increase. The ballot describes the money as being used to build and maintain AND FURNISH schools in Laf Parish. It does NOT LIMIT in any way which schools, what employees, what equipment - so that means all vehicles, tractors, equipment used by maintenance. It could be used for employees salaries. I was suspect of the need for 1.1 Billion $$$, but if you're going to maintain & provide equipment & personnel for ALL SCHOOLS IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, it will take a lot of money, SO that WILL ABSOLUTELY FREE UP HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS for the school board to continue to P away. The good people of Laf Parish are going to be taken to the cleaners again if this property tax rape takes place. - Hope Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:54:33 +0100