Batavian fed up with high taxes

People of Batavia, did you see the article in the Daily Herald regarding the proposed property tax increase of 4.9 percent being requested for 2011 to repay the debt for the high school improvement project? Did the school board not get the message from the last election and referendum on the community center that people want no more tax increases?

When this high school improvement project was proposed, a lot of statements were repeatedly made this would result in no property tax increase. The people voted “yes” on the referendum and we faced a large increase in property taxes. Now in this bad economic time our home values have fallen more than 50 percent in Batavia and finally, for the first time, the assessor agreed and lowered the assessments, which should result in a 10-percent tax decrease.

This is a travesty that the school board wants to sneak this increase in and take our money for a project that has already cost us dearly.

People of Batavia speak up now as the board does not have to present this to the local residents and the date of the hearing is Dec. 28. I, for one, am tired of giving more than 66 percent of my property taxes for Batavia schools. I have no children and am nearing retirement, and soon I won't be able to live in Batavia with the high taxes imposed.

With the low interest rates, the property taxes divided into a monthly sum will be more than the mortgage payment.

Jeanne Meyers

Batavia