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I sit on the Ad-Hoc committee for the proposed capital improvements to the Lansing Schools.  In my opinion, there is ample justification for the repairs to the bus garage, replacement of deteriorating window sills and windows, improvement of biology, chemistry, physics and art labs, improvements to the klunky and loud heating/air conditioning systems in the high school and elementary school (the latter of which did not make it into the budget), acoustic panels and a new boiler for the middle school.  
    
However, the bulk of the proposed $40 million budget, which results in approximately 60% additional square footage, will go to support choral practice rooms, an auditorium, and orchestra practice rooms. Additionally, very expensive additional parking and traffic flow changes are proposed, without addressing one of the most fundamental problems: children crossing an unmarked public road on a daily basis to get from the middle school to the high school. While responsibility for this does not rest with the school alone, making it happen should be a priority for the town and the school.

One of the other committee members asked the question: why do we need so much parking?  One of the answers to this may be that Lansing Schools start at 9am, requiring many working parents to have to drop their children off at pre-school care.  It would seem that having school start closer to 8am would allow more parents to see their children off to the bus about the same time they leave for work. Perhaps this could help reduce congestion and the need for huge blacktop expenditures.  I believe the Ithaca elementary schools will all be on an 8am schedule next year.
 
My major concern is that my combined local taxes are nearly $5000 per year.  This project, if funded to the full amount, will cost each person in this district an additional $230 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.  Add this to the proposed sewer district costs of $883 per year for 20 years for each home, and I'm going to be paying approximately $6250 per year in local taxes.  Considering the average rate the county has been raising taxes, I will soon be paying $125 per week to the county and town, before the State and Feds get their helping!  
    
This upward cycling of taxes is driving middle class people from their homes, as I have witnessed first hand. The State, County, and towns are disgraceful, as collectively they do nothing of substance to relieve taxes.  Personally, I will vote NO on the school budget until we have a more reasonable plan, and I will not be voting in favor of a town sewer district until it’s shown that Lansing taxpayers won’t be subsidizing failing private septic systems or favoring developers.

My final thought: where will $40 million get us the most bang for the buck; keeping and recruiting the best teachers in the nation, or adding chorus rooms and blacktop?
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