Hard to judge D15 tax request on merit

The problem with District 15's $130 million school referendum is that it's very difficult to judge it on its merits. The current school board and District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson have no credibility after the unprecedented 10-year teacher contract they recently signed with very little study before approval. This is a contract providing four years of 2.5% raises and six years of 4% raises - all while the rate of inflation the past 10 years has been just under 2% and the forecasted inflation rate for the next five years is under 2%.

I find it hard to look past this ridiculous contract and the board's lack of involvement in negotiating it when trying to decide how to vote on the referendum. It would have been better if they hadn't introduced this latest proposed tax increase so recently after the teacher contract to give people more time to forget about it.

John Pirog

Palatine