Monday, July 14, 2008

Germantown Might Secede from MATC

The editors of the MJS aren’t making any sense.

The secession talk started when Germantown officials figured they could do better financially by joining another district. MATC has been pretty consistently increasing its property tax levy by 5% a year. Joining another district could reduce those taxes by as much as 40%, and would have no effect on Germantown students, who - like all Wisconsin students - are free to attend the technical college of their choice.

We remain convinced that Germantown - which asked to join the MATC district in 1971 - should remain in the district, which has more educational services and more campuses than other districts.

So Germantown can reduce its tax burden, have access to the same services, and no students will be affected, yet the editors think that Germantown should remain in MATC?  Looks to me like it would be irresponsible - bordering on dereliction of duty - for Germantown officials to vote to remain in MATC.

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0651 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. That’s why the paper is call the urinal. They never met a tax they didn’t like.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 14, 2008 at 0754 hrs


  2. The editorial further states:

    We also think - as we have said in the past - that the state and the technical college system needs to address the larger issues of tech school district funding, governance and whether Wisconsin really needs two tiers of two-year colleges (the tech schools and the University of Wisconsin System’s two-year campuses).

    What’s so non-sensical about looking at “governance” (i.e., considering elected board instead of current appointed board representation) & “whether Wisconsin really needs two tiers of two-year colleges” (i.e., look for duplication)?

    Although it isn’t clear in the way the editorial is set up, I think they are saying that those things need to be looked at before municipalties start splitting off from these districts.

    They also make this point:

    And our guess is that until MATC does something to reduce its tax levy, not only will Germantown’s efforts continue, but other communities may also start seriously considering secession.

    Again, that makes sense to me too.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 14, 2008 at 0829 hrs


  3. Looks to me like it would be irresponsible - bordering on dereliction of duty - for Germantown officials to vote to remain in MATC.

    If that’s really true, then why do any cities, towns, villages, counties, or other entities stay with any Tech School district?  Why don’t they all secede?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 14, 2008 at 0936 hrs


  4. Good point Jason - every few years they could “shop” for the best rate & act accordingly.  Maybe Milwaukee could secede too, and join MPTC (based out of Fon du Lac).  Of course, that demand on services for MPTC would drive up the tax rates of the cities like Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam, West Bend, Hartford, etc.  Then, if MATC rates stabilize, those cities could opt out of MPTC.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 14, 2008 at 1040 hrs


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