School bonds on November ballot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That links seems to be actual payments, not a percentage tax rate. It doesn’t make sense to compare actual payments when property values are different across the country.

I am from Wisconsin and our property taxes were much higher than what we have in Fairfax.

However, some places do not tax groceries. Like Wisconsin. Look at your grocery bill and then figure out what you are paying in sales tax. It is significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our property taxes are already SO high.

They’re actually pretty low when you look around the country.

+1
I was thinking the same thing. They really are relatively low.

We also have property tax on cars.

And, to those who think they are low, I think you must be from the northeast or California. Maybe, you are looking at taxes by state rather than county.

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/county-property-tax-paid-2021/

The rates are low, the actual number is high. Unless you can convince teachers police and fire to work for SWVA level pay, our taxes are going to be higher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our property taxes are already SO high.

Our board of supervisors voted themselves a huge raise earlier this year. I believe it was a 40% pay raise. Pat Herrity was the only one of two supervisors who voted against it.

Meanwhile, what percentage pay raise did the teachers and support staff receive?

People around here really can't complain about the huge jumps in property taxes over the past 2 years and the ridiculous car taxes, when they keep voting blue no matter who. Far left politicians with no moderates elected are going to put in place far left policies.

Your taxes are so high because the board of supervisors is doing stuff like starting a universal income program for certain zip codes only in Fairfax County, with strings free monthly payments.

Either vote differently, or look forward to becoming California.

Oh come on. They're using $2M total for that program. Say we pay an average of 10k for your property taxes based on the 873k average assessment for 2023, that's equivalent to 200 households funding that program. Big whoop. And it's not like only McLean and Langley households are paying for it. Even the worst pyramids have very high SFH valuations and are paying more property tax than you probably assume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our property taxes are already SO high.

They’re actually pretty low when you look around the country.

+1
I was thinking the same thing. They really are relatively low.

We also have property tax on cars.

And, to those who think they are low, I think you must be from the northeast or California. Maybe, you are looking at taxes by state rather than county.

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/county-property-tax-paid-2021/

The rates are low, the actual number is high. Unless you can convince teachers police and fire to work for SWVA level pay, our taxes are going to be higher

The funds are there. It is the way the SB chooses to spend them.

Examples: court costs to defend unnecessary lawsuits; contracts for unnecessary extras--like expensive surveys that help no one except the consultants; payments to families who succeed in lawsuits based on poor conduct by the schools; "experts" at Gatehouse and other administrative offices; "experts" at schools who do not work with students (instructional coaches, for example); workshops for administrators that pay speakers and purchase the speaker's books.

There is a lot, lot more waste than you realize. Remember, every new hire "expert" at Gatehouse results in more paperwork for teachers and more staff for the "experts." After all, they have to justify their positions.

You may say these are drops in the bucket. Anyone who has ever had a leak in the plumbing knows that those drops quickly add up and can be destructive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I will vote yes when I finally see any movement on McLean HS getting a renovation.

How Republican of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the first time ever I will be voting no strictly due to how neglected Mclean HS and the school boards refusal to do anything about it.

I am also so tired of reading people on this Board say that because my kids are getting a good education I should be fine with them going to school is a run down completely overcrowded building.

I am inclined to do the same for the first time ever. Some of my kids' McLean classrooms don't have functioning AC in 95+ temps. This is not in the trailers where the AC works full blast, to the point where they need a sweatshirt. It is in the main building, where they have to strip down to their camis and shorts to make it through class. They have two full sets of clothes just to get through the school day. And of course, no time to even get to their lockers because it takes them every second of their breaks to get from one class to another in the cramped and crowded hallways. It's a joke.

I wear there is a thread in here were people told a mom to stop whining about the heat wave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our property taxes are already SO high.

They’re actually pretty low when you look around the country.

+1
I was thinking the same thing. They really are relatively low.

We also have property tax on cars.

And, to those who think they are low, I think you must be from the northeast or California. Maybe, you are looking at taxes by state rather than county.

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/county-property-tax-paid-2021/

The rates are low, the actual number is high. Unless you can convince teachers police and fire to work for SWVA level pay, our taxes are going to be higher

The funds are there. It is the way the SB chooses to spend them.

Examples: court costs to defend unnecessary lawsuits; contracts for unnecessary extras--like expensive surveys that help no one except the consultants; payments to families who succeed in lawsuits based on poor conduct by the schools; "experts" at Gatehouse and other administrative offices; "experts" at schools who do not work with students (instructional coaches, for example); workshops for administrators that pay speakers and purchase the speaker's books.

There is a lot, lot more waste than you realize. Remember, every new hire "expert" at Gatehouse results in more paperwork for teachers and more staff for the "experts." After all, they have to justify their positions.

You may say these are drops in the bucket. Anyone who has ever had a leak in the plumbing knows that those drops quickly add up and can be destructive.

If you're so certain, can you provide numbers? For FCPS, salaries plus employee benefits make up 89% of the budget

[Anonymous]

If you're so certain, can you provide numbers? For FCPS, salaries plus employee benefits make up 89% of the budget

And, pray tell, how many of those employees actually teach or serve as an instructional aide with students? Sure, it is a majority, but there is an awful lot of waste up top. And, also, please compare the salaries of those hired for special positions in Gatehouse to those of the teachers.

Remember, every survey given requires staff administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you're so certain, can you provide numbers? For FCPS, salaries plus employee benefits make up 89% of the budget

And, pray tell, how many of those employees actually teach or serve as an instructional aide with students? Sure, it is a majority, but there is an awful lot of waste up top. And, also, please compare the salaries of those hired for special positions in Gatehouse to those of the teachers.

Remember, every survey given requires staff administration.

Again, do you have numbers or do you just make your point using adjectives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you're so certain, can you provide numbers? For FCPS, salaries plus employee benefits make up 89% of the budget

And, pray tell, how many of those employees actually teach or serve as an instructional aide with students? Sure, it is a majority, but there is an awful lot of waste up top. And, also, please compare the salaries of those hired for special positions in Gatehouse to those of the teachers.

Remember, every survey given requires staff administration.

Again, do you have numbers or do you just make your point using adjectives?

Have you ever worked in a school? Have you ever been a teacher? Doesn't sound like it. If you had, you would see what is going on here.

Go look at the budget. I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you're so certain, can you provide numbers? For FCPS, salaries plus employee benefits make up 89% of the budget

And, pray tell, how many of those employees actually teach or serve as an instructional aide with students? Sure, it is a majority, but there is an awful lot of waste up top. And, also, please compare the salaries of those hired for special positions in Gatehouse to those of the teachers.

Remember, every survey given requires staff administration.

Again, do you have numbers or do you just make your point using adjectives?

Have you ever worked in a school? Have you ever been a teacher? Doesn't sound like it. If you had, you would see what is going on here.

Go look at the budget. I have.

Then it should be really easy for you to provide numbers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I will vote yes when I finally see any movement on McLean HS getting a renovation.

Not voting for other kids to get a renovation because your kids aren't is a very McLean parent attitude.

FYI- Parents at McLean HS have witnessed helplessly for years how our tax money has gone to update and expand Title 1 schools for years; to replace names of “White oppressors” to more progressive ones; to push green initiatives at schools (car chargers, anyone?), all the while we watch our kids constantly breathing VOC’s from pesticides; material used for repairing and patching ceiling tiles or faulty plumbing, or eating in hallways or stairs due to an overcrowded cafeteria, not to mention barely making it to their classes on time due to impassable hallways!

The only positive thing of that facility has been to have been run by the best school principal and her tireless school support staff.

Your response is so typical of people who feel entitled to many benefits without contributing to anything. Parents in McLean HS who pay property taxes are not free loaders and have the right to expect better for our children than what we have gotten so far, but I guess you think we should vote to continue paying more taxes so your kids can be at facilities with healthier IAQ and more decent space, right?

Oh Mclean bathroom mommy, I knew you'd show up here!

Why are you even showing up at a blog for moms and dads?

[Anonymous]

NP. From the FY24 budget, 92.5 percent of positions are school-based; 7.5 percent are non school-based.

The “waste” poster is spouting generic talking points without having done any actual research.

I still think we should move more of the central office staff back to schools but it’s not what that poster is claiming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Additionally to voting no for the first time, I will also vote for Paul Bartkwoski for School Board because this is a cause he will definitely fight for.

From his campaign:
* I will also focus on solving the overcrowding problems in schools without placing burdens on students and families; the two groups who suffer consequences from overcrowding despite having no hand in causing the problem.

No idea what that means in practice. Care to elaborate?

What part do you need further elaboration on, that I will vote against school bonds, or that I will vote for Bartkowski for School Board because, among other good things, he will do something about the overcrowding at McLean HS?

My first assertion is clear: I will be exercising my right to vote. As for Bartkowski, I’ll leave this here for you:

https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_Bartkowski

What’s he going to do about the overcrowding? Be specific.

You won’t answer, which is why Bartkowski’s odds of getting elected currently are slim to none.

It appears that you are confusing being specific with justifying. I only justify my position on any issue when my intent is to persuade, and in this case, I’m only expressing my choices because I believe that each FCPS parent is entitled to their electoral choices based on their own circumstances and sets of beliefs. Attempting to persuade other parents would be patronizing on my part, and in other instances, a waste of my time.

I shared with you information on Paul Bartkwoski, including his contact information. If your concern about his plan to bring relief to overcrowding in our schools is genuine, you can reach out to him and get all the details. Who knows, maybe you’ll get inspired and support his candidacy. If you are just attempting to cause a stir, please be specific on why I should waste my time.

And, have you heard of David and Goliath?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I will vote yes when I finally see any movement on McLean HS getting a renovation.

How Republican of you.

Democrat actually…always vote blue

Just tired of my kids getting screwed over