Responding to charges

To the editor: In the last school board election, I sent out a mailer to our fellow taxpayers. I covered six points that I hoped would help them make an informed decision on whom they would choose to represent them on the Delaware Valley School Board. The opposing candidates said the information in the mailing was inaccurate and called me a liar. I would like to respond to the first point in the mailing, I said that state informed the DV school district that your taxes could be raised up to the maximum of 6.1%. I went on to say that you could be absolutely sure that if our opponents were to get elected: they will tax to the max! I provided the taxpayers with that information based on the following facts: • In the four years prior to Deb, Ed and myself being elected to the school board, they taxed you over 20%. • They wasted taxpayers’ money by purchasing artificial turf for the football field. The money used to purchase the artificial turf came from the refinancing of a bond at a lower interest rate. The money could only be used for capital improvement, the money should have been used to repair one of our school’s roof that the taxpayers are now paying for. It was not a sports grant that could only be used for the turf as some of our opponents were telling voters. • They relentlessly pursued additional bleachers at the field at a cost of over $350,000 dollars, in addition to The $90,000 that was spent for the land on which the bleachers were to be built. They reasoned that this was a safety issue because the stadium was overcrowded. I fail to see how adding 1,500 more seats would solve the overcrowding and safety problem. On the contrary, it seems to me that it would only increase the problem. • They had an insatiable appetite for the unnecessary purchasing of land. I will provide you with more information on the issue in future. • Finally, when we received notice from the state that the DV school district can raise your taxes up to 6.1%, all board members received an e-mail from the former Chair of the Finance Committee, who was not re-elected. It read, “WOW!!! we could do some great things with an additional 6%.” It was with the above facts in mind that I felt confident in saying that if our opponents win they will “Tax to the Max”. I am writing this letter, so that the people who voted for our candidates can know with confidence that their vote was not cast based on lies. On behalf of, Diane French, John Kupillas and John Wladar, we are humbled and grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in us. It is an honor to serve you. Bob Goldsack DV School Board Director TUA President