LETTERS: ANSWERS NEEDED ON KELLY SCHOOL BOND-ISSUE PLANS

To the editor:

Although I've stayed quietly on the sidelines during the past five attempts to pass the Kelly School District bond issue and only did my civic duty by voting my choice in the matter, I think it's high time I voiced my opinion.

Even though I have never and will never have children in the district, I very much would like a school we can all be proud of. I thought we had that several years ago before the district became so enlarged that the number of students cannot be accommodated. School buses go miles in every direction that were not part of our district in years past. Is it not possible to scale back the district's area to where it was when the current buildings were constructed? This is our real problem. We're taking students who should be attending elsewhere. If this is incorrect, please enlighten me.

We all know county taxes are based on assessed valuation. Someone has said people in trailers don't pay any taxes. What should have been said is that the amount of taxes paid on mobile homes definitely does not compare to the amount paid on permanent houses and outbuildings. Surely we all agree that children are entitled to a good education no matter what they call home.

The district has seen a huge increase in the number of mobile-home parks. This is not the main problem. We are all concerned about how we'll pay such a high tax increase should this bond issue be forced upon us. The county taxes I paid last year on a modest home and two vehicles was more than 70 percent school taxes at the current rate. I would be concerned if that were to be doubled.

What about landowners and farmers in our district? They are the ones who will really be hard-pressed. With farming conditions like they are -- depressed crop prices, fuel and fertilizer costs that have doubled since last year alone and costs for seed and chemicals continuing to rise -- how could they possibly be expected to pay twice what they're forced to pay now in school taxes should this next bond issue pass?

It seems to me the school board and members of this newly formed Building for Tomorrow Committee should be thinking more along the lines of how this new venture will be paid for. Will they want their children and grandchildren to still be paying for it? How many residents of the district would be forced out of business or even out of the district if there is not some other way?

There are some very important decisions to be made before this issue comes up for a vote again.

ROSALIE BOLLINGER

Benton, Mo.