We made it. Hopefully, none the worse for wear. Our RCTA wishes every one the best possible in the coming year.

You and a great many others. Our total tax bill for the average working family is 50%. Nothing is going to change until the people demand change. The first step is knowledge. Know where your hard earned money is going and for what purpose. Twenty years ago the average tax bill was 24%. As the burden of higher taxes and more rules and regulations of questionable merit are forced upon us, our freedoms are diminished. No one knows everything but we try to inform as best we can. Read on --------

The Independent on Thursday, December 2, 1999, captioned an article which read, "Columbia High Badly Squeezed." In the accompanying story, a case is being made to revisit the bottomless pit of the taxpayers' pockets to relieve the East Greenbush Central School District taxpayers of 40 million dollars. Does this mean that we will be looking forward to yet another bond vote, which will top the last on of 28.9 million dollars by 38.5%?

School Superintendent Terrence Brewer and Principal Michael Kudzal are attempting to validate the need for these funds to refurbish the 30-year old brick building. These administrators have put forth several causes, but are they valid? They say that a major problem occurs at dismissal time when the whole student body converges upon the lobby area. But what is the problem? This has been going on for 30 years.

The article quotes Mr. Brewer who believes: It will be "roughly in the $40 million range," by far the district's highest capital improvement venture--out--pacing the recently completed $28.9 massive renovation project of the Goff Middle School, and the district's five elementary school buildings. The district is now eligible to receive 72.1% state aid for the capital project, plus and additional 10%, if the vote takes place prior to July 1, 2000.

However, because of legislation adopted by the state legislature on August 2, 1999, the amount of state building aid could drop to between 62-64%, if the bond vote takes place on or after July 1.

Another chilling thought in the article states that: Instead of taxpayers paying only 18% for the local share, they could be looking at absorbing as much as 30% of the project costs, once the new state building aid formulas take effect on that date, Mr. Brewer added.

The administrators have expressed another observation that "standing in the middle of one classroom, one gets a feeling of claustrophobia." After 30 years, they say these profound words? They go on to add that, "because of the narrow space, small group learning is not possible." The picture on page 24 shows the reader how one teacher (or many teachers) used the available classroom space. A simple re-arrangement of student work desks would result in fewer seats per aisle facilitating small group learning.

Paradoxically, Mr. Brewer informed the newspaper that the business of education goes on smoothly at Columbia High by what he terms "a dedicated staff," yet the 240,370 square foot structure is not user-friendly. Should we spend 40 million dollars on a building where educational programs are smoothly delivered by the school faculty? Who is kidding whom?

Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association uses this bond issue as a first alert to the community. Consider the following: educators created the current problems by reconfiguring the school grade levels when Columbia was built 30 years ago to teach three grades with questionable results.

Remember, from whatever the tax source of funds might be, it is still coming out of your pocket. It's your money!

You probably belong to several SIG's. Perhaps you are a member of a church, a fraternal organization, a political party, a professional organization or the Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association. These are all special interest groups. SIG's are good because they bring like-minded people together, often to promote a worthy cause. SIG's are bad when they are promoted by the Federal or State governments. Our socially inspired leaders seem to want to dole out taxpayer money to an ever-increasing number of SIG's. On the surface the dole sounds great for the receiver and even sounds like it is the compassionate thing to do. For instance, giving to Gold Star Mothers, taking care of the children, the elderly, the poor in health, etc. These are NOT the function of government. Political incumbents use these handouts to get votes to further their own careers as much as they do it to help people.

The Declaration of Independence tells us that all men are created equal. Our founding Fathers gave us a constitution that tells how to apply this concept to the citizens of these United States. Nowhere does it pit one group of citizens against another. It treats us all equally. When one group of citizens gains tax money for their cause it increases the tax burden for the rest of the taxpayers. It is not the function of government to redistribute the wealth of its citizens. We need good Government for all people, not just certain people.

We think the Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association is a worthy SIG because it endeavors to stifle wasteful government spending and works toward making your tax burden lighter.

National Health Care is still being pushed by left wingers. The public rejected this socialistic scheme at the beginning of the present Hillary Administration and rightly so. In a recent debate Bradley and Gore were trying to out promise one another on spending for liberal causes.

Unfortunately, Canada became involved in a national health care system that has proven to be a bureaucratic, inefficient mess. A total financial blunder! The Canadian dollar is now exchanged at 53 cents and over 10,000 Canadian MD's have moved to the U.S. in sheer frustration. Anyone who has traveled to Eastern Europe or Russia could tell you stories on national health care that defy description. We have the best health care system in the world. The need to bring prescription medicine down to reasonable levels should be our only goal. Our phony Rhodes scholar and Tennessee tobacco farmer should find better things to do with their time.

Our higher institutions of learning now admit that approximately 80% of their students cheat on exams. Worse yet, word is out that many faculty members either overlook this activity or give strong hints during written examinations as to correct answers. Aiding and abetting, obviously. The purpose of the examination is thus nullified. A lack of proper preparation is evident from grade one right on through. Cover up social programs, time wasting field trips and socialistic mush is not a proper education. Liberal writer Andy Rooney now sees the light in Times Union, Dec. 30, 1999 Ed. "I was best at sports that didn't involve throwing or catching a ball. You couldn't have convinced me I'd ever think so, but now I think they've gone overboard with high school sports. They've become too important. Sports are not important. Sports are a diversion from work. They are meant to take our mind off our work for a short time. Too much money is spent on too few students in both high school and college because not many participate in varsity competition."

Thanks Andy, we couldn't have said it better.

A pouring contract with Pepsi Cola is expected to provide the East Greenbush School District hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next five years. In the first contract year, a possible total of $106,000 may be received. Apparently, all "found funds" within a fiscal year which are not included in the revenue portions of the approved budget is the School Board's money to spend. They passed a resolution in October giving Assistant Superintendent Dykstra direction on how to spend the cash. The directions did not say to save it for next year's budget.

Among the Pepsi payments is $6,500 to the East Greenbush Education Foundation. About $5,000 of the funds would be used for scholarships and $1,500 going to administrative support. The 23.1% allocation to administer $5,000 in scholarship awards is one of great concern to the Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association.

Top this off with an impeached president.

According to the TU, Jan. 4, 2000, "Governor Pataki released ideas Monday for controlling public school spending including the administration of Star tax relief benefits away from school districts and creating a law that would place a cap on school budget growth. The modifications would combat 'a growing tendency by local school district to use these savings to hide the fact that they are increasing taxes.' Pataki said. He wants the district to get approval by two-thirds of voters before caps could be exceeded." This is must legislation that the public should demand. A couple of years ago, the Averill Park School moguls tried to pass a budget of a 38% increase. An aroused public finally saw the light. The liberals in our school districts are not going to dismantle this octopus of strangulation and control until our decent, upright, hard working citizens force the issue.

A hot issue. Many other States are considering them or already use vouchers. Minnesota is one. In addition to this program, enlightened individuals with independent minds stress concentration on the basics, less sports and social activities without purpose. More playgrounds, for instance. The so-called field trips eventually lead to tragedy of some kind. The recent excursion of a bus load of 50 pupils from an Albany School District transported 26 miles to Schoharie to look at a field of pumpkins makes no sense at all. The district is now involved in lawsuits in the millions. The best way of avoiding these problems is by not promoting them. Use the time to teach the children something useful. They will appreciate it when they grow up.

1. Bradley's wife complaining because they don't have dental insurance. Do these people feel that the taxpaying public should pay for it? Typical!
2. Now's the time for the new East Greenbush officials to give us their stand on widening Columbia Turnpike.
3. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
4. NY City concerned mother beats up a teacher for giving her brat a low mark on her report card. Compassionate judge gives miscreants a slap on the wrist. Justice will win out.
5. NY State has the highest per capita average cost per pupil of $9,316.
6. Teens killed slamming their vehicle into a tree. Environmentalists first on the scene to examine the damage to the tree.

In the TU, Dec. 8, editorial, Elmer Smith takes on the question of a six year old Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, being returned to Cuba or staying in the U.S. as a landed immigrant. Mr. Smith displays the far left attitude in this instance in his feeble endeavor to justify an unnecessary tolerance toward a murderous totalitarian regime. The liberals naturally take the side of his natural father who remains in Cuba. No one in this debate has raised specific questions that are most appropriate to the situation. No. 1: Why would a mother be willing to leave a supposedly devoted husband and take her young son and risk the extreme dangers of an open sea voyage in a rickety boat with a few other escapees? Those of us who are honest with ourselves know the answer to that one. Obviously to escape the hell hole of ruthless communism and give the youngster a chance for a normal life. Even Hillary and Billary would refrain from giving you an argument on that. They might be evasive but that's how they play the game. No. 2: Has anyone in authority asked the six year old what he prefers if he had the choice? Would he reflect on the ordeal his mother and he went through in order to live a decent life and free themselves of the depraved bondage of socialism? Hypocrites would argue this point. No. 3: What person in any judicial position with any degree of compassion would order this youngster back to a life of poverty and hopelessness?

These people are not criminals or welfare candidates. They are genuine refugees from oppression. Do we detect silence from anointed officials and our clergy

RCTA
PO Box 145
East Greenbush, NY 12061

The taxpayer group is your voice to alert the public on matters involving the use of your money by public servants.
New members are needed to support our goals, which are excellence, accountability, and cooperation.

Give us a call.

Vox Pop

Next regular meetings at the East Greenbush Town Hall
Tuesday January 11, 2000, at 7 PM.
Tuesday February 8, 2000, at 7 PM.