Letters to Editor

May 9, 2013

Apply Retail Tax to School Funding

Sometime ago the Ohio Supreme Court told the schools in Ohio to find another way to fund schools.

Instead, the schools in an attempt to satisfy the residents in their respective districts, keep the doors open, chose to make teacher and staff cuts, which is a short-term fix that hurts teachers, students and homeowners, and doesn’t solve the problem; it only makes it worse.

I have not read or heard where the schools are trying to find a permanent solution to this problem.

The laws of Ohio don’t currently allow retail tax to be applied to school funding, which could reduce a significant amount of homeowners taxes.

Changing the law allowing a portion of retail tax would ease homeowners tax, keep the teachers employed, necessary classes and activities in place, etc.

This way, all the residents who live in the district and have children in school would contribute.

All the schools in Ohio should be lobbying to change the law if this makes sense.

If we could significantly reduce homeowners house taxes, accept that everyone may have to pay a little more in retail tax, then people would probably pass the levies. Everyone wins.

All these cuts currently being made by the schools isn’t the answer, as they are only making the situation worse.

Bill Salmon

Chardon

Informative Program

On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Geauga County, I want to thank Kathy Hanratty, the Geauga League’s environmental chair, for setting up our annual Free Speech Forum.

Thanks to the four speakers who presented different viewpoints on the topic of shale development. They were: Kari Matsko, director of People’s Oil and Gas Collaborative of Ohio: Gene Cbini, director of ODNR’s Orphan Well Program; William Kinney, president of Summit Petroleum; and Al Rosen, field energy specialist for LWVOhio.

Thanks also to the NDCL Education Center for allowing the use of their wonderful facility.

And, finally, thanks to the audience who braved the weather to attend a very interesting and informative program in spite of a very snowy day and evening.

Rosemary Balazs, President

LWVGC

Heroic Actions

I write this letter, just having completed our viewing of the cruiser involved in the March 10 shooting and the subsequent video secured from the cruiser.

I watched in almost disbelief, as the events unfolded that Sunday evening, and had a lump in my throat. My heart literally raced from watching the video and I am still stunned now, a couple of hours later.

I write this letter to commend Officers Savage and Thomas for their heroic actions that day, but even more so, as a very heartfelt thank you to you and all your officers for putting yourselves in harms way on a daily basis and protecting our village and its residents.

The speed in which a routine traffic stop escalated into a full blown assault was mind numbing. There was no time to think, no time to evaluate … only time to react, and rely on training to survive.

Those officers did their jobs incredibly well. Not to mention all your other officers that then came in and secured our village in the aftermath.

It takes a special person to desire to be a police officer. I have discussed this many times with my wife, Laura. I do not have that make up. It is not in my DNA. I do not want to be the person pulling over a drunken driver at 2 a.m. in the morning. I do not want to be the person going into a domestic violence situation. I do not want to be the person responding to a theft. I do not want to be the person making a drug bust.

I thank God there are people like you and your officers that are willing to take on this much needed role in our society. I have always had the utmost respect for people like yourselves, and all your officers, that have chosen this career path. And I write this letter to all of you, not only as a councilman, but even more so, as a resident, a husband and a father.

As a Middlefield councilman, I applaud your department and will continue with my track record of always supporting you, whether it entail equipment, training, vehicles, wages, etc.

As a resident, I thank you for being out there.

As a husband and father, I thank you for keeping our streets safe and for allowing me to sleep well at night knowing your presence is always there, and you are a phone call away should danger ever invade my home.

I thank you all for choosing this profession. As the events of March 10 reminded all of us, routine can turn into unbelievable in a millisecond.

Ive heard many officers can go through an entire career, without ever having to pull their weapon, much less discharge it. But that is immaterial. The fact that you all put yourselves in a career where you may someday have to pull your weapon … may someday have to discharge it … may someday be in a life or death situation. That is what separates and distinguishes you from the rest of us. You willingly take that risk. You willingly take on that responsibility. You willingly defend our community. You willingly wear that badge and equip yourselves daily with weapons to take on the bad guys, so to speak.

You work nights, weekends and holidays. You work in heat, rain, cold and snow. You work shifts that interrupt routine and family life. You sacrifice. Your families sacrifice.

Again, I thank you and your entire department for the jobs you do. A job I dont think I could do. You are special folks and you have my utmost respect and admiration.

Scott Klein

Village of Middlefield Councilman,

Resident, Husband and Father

Boston Wounded

The least we can do for those who suffered in the Boston Marathon catastrophe is for the federal government to pay for all the medical expenses not covered by individuals insurance.

We bailed out banks and run huge deficits in unwarranted wars and military activity. Lets do something and spend some money on helping those in need who did nothing to bring on their individual tragedies.

Elliott Berenson

Chester Township