Letters: Property-tax increase should be the end for current school leadership

CITY COUNCIL is poised to pass a 3.9 percent property-tax increase to help cover $100 million for Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. While it appears Council believes it chose the best of the worst options, this latest property-tax hike must signal the end of the current school administration and be the impetus for a fundamental change in how the city educates our youth.

Under Ackerman's lack of leadership, the district faces a $629 million deficit. I, and the rest of Philadelphia, knew since the beginning of the year that the district would face budget issues with Gov. Corbett cutting funding and the end of federal stimulus money. Yet Ackerman waited until the 11th hour to demand $100 million from the city. She let what could have been, at best, difficult budget negotiations become an unmanageable crisis.

The school district under Ackerman decided the best way to make cuts was to lay off 1,500 teachers. But Ackerman's job is the education of the city's youth. Anyone who believes the best way to educate those young people is to lay off educators clearly doesn't care about actually educating students.

The most egregious aspect of Ackerman's demand and the tax increase is that there has been no real accountability or oversight of district spending. A $629 million deficit is clear evidence of both the district's and Ackerman's inability to manage a budget. Now the dragon of mismanagement is being fed an additional $53 million, and I guarantee it will be misspent.

It looks like Ackerman will have her demands met and the district will receive more money. I fear that will be the end of the story with continued lack of accountability, continued no-bid contracts and continued lack of answers to the city controller's request for explanations.

It's time for a change. Recess is over. Philadelphians can't afford any more taxes.

Al Taubenberger, candidate 

City Council at large

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As a struggling-to-make-ends-meet senior citizen, I'd like to thank the mayor and Council for that early Christmas present - another tax hike!

If you think we believe it will only be for one year, you're all crazy. No Social Security raises in more than two years and never a raise in my pension, but I'm sure you, your deputies and staffs will get another raise to more than cover this new tax hike.

I guess the mayor will hire another $100,000-plus deputy to keep tabs on where all this money is going. Abolish half of Council, that will save millions.

If you all think that because we're old we'll forget this come November, I hope you're in for a rude awakening. These are just some of the reasons young and old are moving out of town first chance they get.

Joe Gajewski, Philadelphia nolead ends