Letters: Vote 'no' to increased taxes

I will vote "no" to increased school taxes.

I am one of many former and current school teachers who wish the focus of school was education, not extracurricular activities.

I have also wondered why our taxes support some activities and not others. We do not support ballet, martial arts, ice skating and many, many others, even though the physical conditioning and mental acuity they teach equal or exceed those activities our taxes do support.

Removing these programs from tax funding should result in the community stepping forward to make sure they are continued. Everyone who has passionately advocated continuing them with tax dollars is a potential activist and supporter in the private sector.

I realize the administration says funding is needed beyond extra-curricular activities... but I also know that, like death and taxes, school bond issues appear regularly on ballots. When I am convinced the basic education of our children truly needs further funding, I will vote "yes."

This time, I will vote "no."

Florence Witkop

Park Rapids