To the editor:
I have been doing some research, along with several others in Hamilton, and have found that what the overrides to support the school budget have cost taxpayers over the past 10 years comes to a whopping $39 million; and it will continue to grown even higher, unless the voters vote against any future overrides.
The overrides are supposed to be used only for an emergency situation, but over the past 10 years they have been used strictly to fund the yearly school budget.
Did the school board ever state that we have an emergency and need extra funds this year to run the schools? Not really. They've said that in order to balance the budget they need an override; and each year taxpayers voted in the request.
Now that it is finally getting through to voters that each year's override adds on to the level of taxing and we pay each year for past overrides, and with the total now at over $39 million, it's time for voters in Hamilton to finally say enough. No more overrides to support the schools.
It's time for the school board to come up with a realistic budget that does not require an override. Check with the group Enough is Enough for more information on stopping overrides.
Leigh Keyser
Hamilton
