News and Tribune

TRIBUNE LETTERS: March 17, 2010

newsroom@newsandtribune.com

>>SOUTHERN INDIANA — Reader: School board hearing was ‘just a dog and pony show’

I attended my first school board public hearing recently at New Albany High School. I was amazed at the attitude of the board members and especially the superintendent of schools. As 66 people went to the podium and spoke from their hearts about closing the four elementary schools, every word seemed to fall on deaf ears. I listened to many former students, their children now going to the same schools, and parents with 5th graders that would be going to middle schools with 8th graders — all with concerns, again no reply, and not much concern shown by the board. I have been to many school functions at Silver Street, they have unmatched school spirit, always with standing room only. The principal and the entire staff are great and love their students — what happens to them?

I also heard terrific things about Galena Elementary, a 10-year, four-star school.

I think the plan is already in the works and it was just a dog and pony show. One thing the members should remember — every vote counts — elections will be held for offices this year. Some are running for other offices — like State Senator. Let’s all get out and vote!!

After my daughter spoke, I was leaving and met a nice man. His name was Tony. I was complaining about the board, and he overheard me and said, “I am running for the school board this year and I would appreciate your vote. I don’t like what they’re doing either.”

We need changes in the school board, they have wasted our tax dollars for years with many bad decisions, is this another one?

Once the schools are closed they will not re-open. Children going to small neighborhood schools will be bused to bigger schools — is that best for their education? Three days to think about something this big is not enough time! Signed, a concerned registered voter.

Here are 10 things I don’t like about the possibility of tolling bridges over the Ohio River:

1. Tolls are a regressive tax — the charge doesn’t vary according to income, and thus affects road users on low incomes more than it does those who are better off.

2. Tolls are inefficient — a very large proportion of what is paid in tolls goes into the cost of collecting it and corporate profit.

3. Tolls are wasteful — apart from the cost of a collection and enforcement bureaucracy, authorities that operate tolls tend to be overmanned and looking for ways in which they can use up the money as fast as it comes rolling in.

4. Tolls are unfair — tolls are paid on top of other taxes on road users — so drivers are paying twice.

5. Tolls don’t encourage fuel economy or distinguish between cars with different fuel consumption or using “greener” fuels. They lead to more wasted fuel as drivers detour and take longer routes to avoid tolls. It is better to charge for roads through taxes on fuel as this helps to conserve fuel supplies and reduce emissions by encouraging drivers to be more careful with their use of fuel and to car share.

6. Tolls cause some drivers to make longer journeys on less suitable roads which increases congestion and the risk of accidents.

7. Toll collection causes vehicles to slow down or stop. This is annoying for drivers. It also wastes more fuel, and leads to more accidents as the vehicles approach the tolls trying to get into a lane with the smallest queue and fumbling for cash. Fully electronic tolls reduce these harmful effects, but do not remove them; and in many cases there is a mixture of electronic and cash tolls which can cause more delays and accidents as drivers detour to get into the correct toll lane.

8. Tolls are often privately run, and even where they are not there is a great temptation to cash in by selling the toll money making machine. Private operators and their bankers usually make large profits. It is cheaper to pay for roads through either taxes or government borrowings — which are eventually repaid through taxes.

9. If there are two areas, one with tolls and the other without, then businesses, potential employees and tourists will prefer the area without tolls. Tolls reduce beneficial “agglomeration” effects as they divide people and businesses.

10. Tolls, particularly on river crossings, divide communities and create a “wrong side of the tracks.”