The Pequot Lakes School Board and administration are being very disrespectful of the residents who spend a few months in the winter down south. Many of these people are large taxpayers. The board decision to sneak the bonding vote through while the "heavyweight" taxpayers are absent is at best very disrespectful and more likely boarding on criminality.
All we have heard so far are wants with almost no facts on needs. For example: How many students are from outside the Pequot School District? The costs of construction have never been broken down in elements for the voters. In my business experience this is called bucket accounting. Has anyone looked at filling the dome at Eagle View with a second floor. It would make a beautiful science or computer lab with a view through the massive windows. It would also improve the heating efficiency at less cost than new mortar.
What is the next 10 years projection for student population? The administration has never even given us the present student count but I am certain it is far below the projection to justify the original Eagle View building project. The whole thing reminds me of "seat of the pants" planning.
The school board should postpone the vote until the board has presented all the facts and our residents have returned from the South.
Robert Olson
Ideal Township
Comments (11)
Add commentEagle View
Can anyone tell us for sure------is someone that is seasonal and has recreational property able to vote and does this affect his or her property tax or tax bill period?? I have heard both sides of the story--no one knows for sure? If seasonals cannot vote but are affected by the outcome is this not taxation by no representation and thus against law? Can one be taxed on something like this without a voice in the outcome? I agree wait till all the people are back-but this is the way this school board has worked in the past and continues to work--they give you half the facts and less than that in truth and only what they want out there for info and that to help their cause--the teachers union is also behind this and may in fact be the biggest supporter of it---if passed it will just be more of a division between a great many of the citizens and the teachers and their commie union.
Scrooge the kids
Yeah, I don't wanna support these ruffians... they're mostly little right wing nazis anyway.
Eagle View: People who leave
Eagle View: People who leave the area for warmer climes do have a right to vote via an absentee ballot, but only if their address of legal residence is their seasonal and recreational property. I see a lot of Arizona, Florida, and Texas plates in the Brainerd Lakes area during the summer, and I know most of them "ain't" people driving up here for vacation for a few weeks. If one lives in Pequot Lakes School District and declares where they live their legal residence, then they have the right to vote. If they are avoiding Minnesota State Income taxes by making their place of legal residence in a non-income tax state, then no, they do not have the right to vote, nor should they. If their legal residence is in Minnesota but outside the Pequot Lakes District, then no, they don't have the right to vote nor should they -- you can only be registered to vote in one precinct in Minnesota. The seasonal property owners have thrown around a lot of money in the legislature which has resulted in seasonal property being exempt from "excess levy" taxation passed by referendum, but not from the general operational levy, the community education levy, or construction levies.
If you can afford lake property, you can afford to pay the taxes owed from the County, the township, and the School District. But unless you declare your lake property to be your legal residence, you don't have a right to vote on property tax referendums. If you want that right, make your lake home your place of legal residence. However, it you do that, then your lake home will be exposed to any excess levy referendum that passes in the school district in addition to all of the other levies.
Most "lake" counties in this state have high levels of poverty among the permanent residents. These are the people who wait on you at the nice restaurants, stock the liquor store shelves with the wines you like, work in the bait shop or marina, clean cabins, plow snow, and eek out a living however they can. Most of us who own seasonal property have disposable income or made the decision to scrimp at home in order to have lakeshore property "up north." I've owned 3 lots since 1980, learned to appreciate the people who live here, who were born and raised here, and understand the local economy can be brutal. Helping their kids get a good education by paying my taxes on property in their school district is the least I can do.
If you disagree with the school board and are a resident, vote them off next election. Or better yet, run yourself. If you disagree with the school board and own seasonal property, sell you place and find a spot where your taxes will be lower.
In a nutshell
" ...and personally could give a flip about the waitstaff or the stockers, etc. I don't come up for the people but to enjoy my home and the lakes."
And there ladies and gentlemen, we have it in a nutshell.
"SCROOGE EVERYBODY ELSE"
Bah! Humbug!
Out of my way! Peasants! I'm
Out of my way! Peasants!
I'm here to enjoy MY house on MY lake.
Property Taxes
I believe that there are two distinct classes of snowbirds. A friend falls under one class and that is those who live here during the summer months only. If you live in Minnesota for 6 months (possibly plus one day) you are a resident and must pay income taxes to the state. My friend lives in Texas (no state income taxes) for 6 months and 1 day and is thus a resident of Texas. Thus, he pays no MN state income taxes AND does not qualify for the homestead deduction for MN either and thus is responsible for all taxes and assesments due on that property. He can not vote as a MN resident either. If a person lives in MN for the same 6 months and 1 day he is then a resident of MN and qualifies for the homestead allowance, pays MN income taxes and most important in this situation does vote here.
So, my feeling is tough bunnies for the Texas resident and shame on the school board for setting the date for the school bond issue when our resident snowbirds are gone. They do however have the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot and I believe the school board in setting the bonding vote at such an asinine date should be required to inform all voters of the day by U.S. Mail !!!