MASON CITY – In what he called an “editorial”, Mason City School Board President Tim Becker blasted the 1100 people who signed a petition to force the school district to hold a vote on levying new taxes on the people of Mason City.
“The Instructional Support Levy, that has been voted down twice, that is going to go to a vote again, because people either don’t understand the need or flat out want to be obstructionists. This is money that … goes right to the general fund.”
Arguing for passage of the levy, Becker claimed that property tax assessments in Mason City have gone down 25% in the last two years.
“Property tax assessments have gone down 25% in the last two years” in Mason City, Becker claimed to a large crowd Monday evening as the board considered cuts to educators and coaches.
According to City Assessor Dana Naumann, “property tax assessments have not changed over the last two years. They have stayed the same. With new construction, if anything, there have been increases.”
Naumann also said that the real estate market in Mason City has “rebounded” to pre-recession levels.
“As a whole, overall, in the last 5 years, values probably dropped off prior to that (due to recession), but over the past five years, property values have rebounded to pre-recession levels,” Naumann said.
The Mason City Conference Board -made up of Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, the Mason City Council, the Cerro Gordo County Supervisors and the Mason City School Board- recently approved a $1 million dollar project to re-assess all residential and commercial properties in Mason City. Mason City tax payers will pay for that $1 million starting this year on their tax bill and will pay for it for years.
Becker’s seat on the school board is up for election this year.
httpv://youtu.be/1GvzjW5iclU
What’s happened is that we’ve regressed. The manufacturing base is gone. A TV is 5% of what it once cost but at the same time we now spend 4 times what did 30 years ago and that’s adjusted for inflation.
Now these pay scales for school employees are elite positions in society. They’ve risen far faster than inflation while other jobs haven’t and why is this.
Because people think digging deep and paying these taxes ensures their children’s success in life.
It’s crazy because I’d rather not be educated, stay home and learn online and then have the money saved on my education returned to me when I turn 18. Then I could literally retire with $500,000 in the bank, the money that is spent on educating me to age 18.
Then I’d work on the side for fun.
1100 citizens of our community had the common sense to say you have no right to continually steel money from our family’s that we work hard for without us having a say so you can piss it away on a failing education system. Becker sounds like a typical fat cat communist.
Just like the rest of us who live in the real world, the school system needs to tighten their belt, do more with less and suck it up. Competent leadeship and major changes at the administration and board level would go a long way to accomplish that goal.
Question–is it not true that the school will likely be getting 800,000 plus dollars because the district paid teachers more than the minimum salary standard legislation that is expected to pass? What will that money be used for?
I’m not going to mince words. If Tim Becker is this stupid shouldn’t he resign? If we have people overseeing our education system that can put out lies in front of the public then it’s past time to look into where our dollars are being spent.
Hey, buddy explain to me why my property taxes have gone up 300 dollars, if assesments have gone down!!! I vote no because the money will be mismanaged just like all the other mismanaged projects!!! And this b.s that we are the only ones without a ISL is getting old as well. Or its for the children, is all B.S. this money will go to your pockets and we know it..
Becker really put his foot in his mouth. Assessments have not gone down and property taxes have gone up.
Maybe he attended Hillary’s school of “truth speak”!!
This guy’s the school board president? LOL
Anita needs to go!!!!!!!!
I’m curious on what happens to people who just bought a new home and their houses were already assessed for taxes. Does that mean we get re-assessed and have to pay higher property taxes for something that was already done? Bull…
YES! Everyone gets re-assessed but the city claims the amount may be lower. Well, because you’ll believe anything.
When will you folks wise up. Your kids can’t learn as well if the teacher is driving a Honda and not a Lexus. Please dig deep and pay more taxes. Your child’s teacher deserves to drive a nicer car than you. Just look at the teacher parking lots. I’m not seeing the amount of BMW’s that I should. Sure there are many, but every teacher should have one and an Apple Ipad as well…with retina display of course. C’mon you taxpayers are slacking!
I am sorry, not all teachers can afford a Lexus on their pay. And many do not, unless they have a third household income. I don’t mind it if it were applied to teachers compensation, however as the man said, it would go into the General Fund, translated – it can be spent on anything.
With the exceptions of those students who’s parents work hard with their kids, the product of the District is dismal compared to other systems. Until they can provide a better product, say no.
Anita Micich sitting there with that big smirk on her face. Notice she did not say that about taxes, she does not OWN property here. WOW isn’t that just wonderful take that big salary and not give anything back.
Think we need a change from top to bottom, there has to be a lot of DEAD weight on South Penn.
So what you are saying the school needs more money and the taxpayers need to get a 2nd job to pay for it
Show me 1 person at the school who makes a living off the taxpayer doller, who has been willing to take 1 cent LESS in pay over the last 10 years, and I will change my vote.
While the private sector has been forced to take less and less, the public sector DEMANDS more and more. And if you try and say no, you are a slug? Really?
A smaller school, needs a smaller staff! What is so hard about that? Thats the way it is in the real world.
Government at all levels needs to learn this.
Too many in the private sector just take what scraps their employers want to give them. There are a lot of industries that have seen pay increases, and are viable operations.
They are willing to pay a lot of money to people in N. Dakota right now, why not head up there and go for the gold? Or you are just willing to accept conditions here.
I can’t wait until next school board election, I’ll have to start paying more attention.
Also, just a friendly heads up to Matt, it is against Youtubes TOS to have ads in front of your videos. I would hate to see them to close your account down for something so stupid.
Wow! Really Tim… u sound JUST LIKE Obama. And of course, the left will believe you. My taxes have done nothing but GO UP!
Maybe we should ask for a refund- according to my tax records (no new construction here)- our property tax bill has increased. Were we overcharged?
And Property taxes have gone UP ! Figure that one out old smammy !
You are absolutely correct. My taxes have gone up every year.
These people will do anything or say anything to get what they want. Even if the taxes HAD gone down by 25% (that would be because the value of our property had gone down) that is no reason or excuse for them to get their hands on and waste our tax dollars. That was a stupid thing for him to say. Less students means less money needed. Downsize the way everyone else does. This is the attitude they all have. It is time to get these people off our school board.