Reading this week’s local paper, I see that ISD 166 has decided to help its employees pay for YMCA membership. Sounds innocent enough. That is until you remember who ISD 166 gets all its money from. Yep, the local taxpayer.
So let me get this straight. The taxpayer is expected to pay full price for YMCA membership, yet part of the taxes we all pay will go to offset ISD 166 workers YMCA membership.
I also noted in the Duluth paper a few days ago that the state legislature has approved a law that will allow local school districts to add $300 per pupil per year. In their wisdom, the state also provided an incentive as part of the deal by offering more state aid (guess where that comes from) to districts that pass this new tax. Doing the math, that is close to what the school district has generously decided to apparently voluntarily give its employees, whose salary is also paid by—you guessed it—the local taxpayer.
Expect the local school district to soon “need” the $300 tax. My, my, both the local school district and the state legislature have learned it sure is easy to spend someone else’s money.
George Gradek
Grand Marais
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