Southmoreland School District would like to increase your taxes from 14 mils to 17 mils (3 mils–over 21%!)  to cover $250,000 per year pensions and Al Gore’s tax breaks.

Southmoreland School District has “lost” revenue from the Tax Abatement granted to Aquion, the battery manufacturer moving into the old Sony industrial park.  Al Gore is one of the investors.  But, since he (and the other investors) get a tax break, Southmoreland School District has decided that you and I need to make up the difference.  Southmoreland School District will raise taxes on Upper Tyrone all Southmoreland School District (SSD) residents by 3 mils, unless the residents make their voices heard.  (The administration finally got their own facts straight–the tax increase is on all SSD residents, not just Upper Tyrone.)

The average resident of Southmoreland School District earns about $19,000 per year.  The average family doesn’t even make $36,000 per year.  Yet the average Southmoreland School District employee earns about $65,000 per year plus $25,000 in benefits!  Two recent retirees (not yet age 61) are each receiving a pension of $250,000 per year plus healthcare.  In recent years, Southmoreland School District retirees have collected over $4 million in bonuses!

Southmoreland School District does not have a revenue problem.  Southmoreland School District has a spending problem.  There is no excuse for one year of education for one child to cost over $13,000!  You can send your child to Mt. Carmel Christian School for about $3,000 per year.

Take Action!

Attend the rally on May 24, 7pm at the Middle School Cafeteria, Scottdale campus.

You and I don’t have the money for buracrats to spend our money as they please.  Stop it now.  There is another $8 million of debt they will need to cover out of our pockets over the next several years.