Taxpayers obviously can afford to overlook local job candidates. These potential employees support our tax base, but are often not hired. Recently, the board hired a teacher from outside the community who will be paid a salary greater than the teachers with 25 years of teaching experience in this district. The Homer-Center School Board must feel that taxpayers can afford to pay the present premiums for health care. Other area schools have negotiated with their providers for lower premiums on indemnity programs.
Taxpayers obviously can afford to pay interest on illegally withheld wages.
Regardless of the outcome of these negotiations, projections by the board indicate taxes will increase in the future. It is not because of a fair and equitable contract which causes rises in taxes, rather it is the frivolous use of community funds which jeopardizes the excellence of our educational system. As taxpayers, we would like to reiterate that binding arbitration is a means to an end. Trained individuals will arrive at a compromise based on the demographics and financial portfolio of our district. We believe that we cannot ignore the use of binding arbitration.