Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Is anyone listening?

My column for the Daily News is online.  It’s called, “Is anyone listening?”  Here’s a part:

It is clear that for the last several years, the voters of West Bend have been strongly and repeatedly making their wishes known through the electoral process. They are electing conservatives, voting down reckless refrendums and showing their displeasure with elected officials by replacing them at every turn. The question is: Are those elected officials listening?

   The evidence is mixed. The Common Council has done a much better job in recent years of listening to constituents. Its members have done a reasonable job managing spending and community priorities as evidenced by the Library Board fiasco. On the other hand, they also recently supported a low-income housing development that was strongly opposed by people in that district.

   The School Board appears to still be utterly deaf to community concerns. Its members passed a budget predicated on another maximum increase in the property tax levy. They are already whispering about an operating budget increase referendum. And while they complain about a lack of funds, they pump tax dollars into a fitness facility and consider upgrading and operating the high school pool to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars of spending.

   The citizens have been clear about what they want from the School Board, but the district leadership and the School Board continue to pretend that they know better than we mere rubes.

   Next April brings up another opportunity for the citizens to speak. Mayor Kristine Deiss, School Board President Joe Carlson, School Board member Todd Miller, Alderman Nick Dobberstein and others will be on the ballot. Time will tell how the voters evaluate their behavior between now and April.

(2) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0732 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. No one is listening because respect of people and the law has been replaced with short memories and apathy.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2010 at 1237 hrs


  2. They’re not (listening) in Menomonee Falls either. After a 9.1% school tax increase last year, they want another 5.6% AGAIN this year because…now get this…we have fewer students so we are getting less state aid. Who do they think they are, WE Energies? You’re using less electricity so we have to raise the rates! Last time, instead of letting teachers and adminstrators go, they added a Zero Hour class so their existance could continue to be justified. Menomonee Falls School Board tactic is tax, tax tax and tax-em s’more. Bought and paid for by the Teacher’s Union.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2010 at 1537 hrs


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