DEAR EDITOR:
Greg Miller’s letter to the editor asked a question of how much this school tax special election costs. After speaking with the Allen and Van Wert county boards of elections, the answer is around $15,000.
We could have shared this expense with other issues and levies in our area if we waited until November but now, we will be paying this amount ourselves. Could this extra money be used for something more worthy, like pay to participate?
Sincerely,
Charlie Luersman

__PUBLIC__DEAR EDITOR,
Here we go again. Another attempt by our local school board and administration to increase our taxes. This time by a special election. This is the only special election in this area that I am aware of.
This time, the taxes will cover all incomes, not just earned income, even though it has been lowered to .5 percent (for now). To you seniors and retirees, that means taxing social security, pensions, interest on savings and any investment incomes. This as the federal government is talking cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
Last election the school board was asking seniors and retirees to vote for the levy because it would not affect them. This time it will effect everyone. You would think that after the last tax levy was “soundly” defeated, the school board and administration would have gotten the message: “No new taxes.”
I don’t think they have any idea what to do; better to raise taxes than confront the issues. No one said it would be easy. Just do like every other business or industry and work within your budget. It takes much less effort to raise taxes than to face some difficult issues.
At present, the Delphos Public School system has five buildings to educate our students: Franklin Elementary, Jefferson Middle School, Landeck Elementary, Jefferson Senior High and the Superintendent’s office (across from the middle school building). Do we really need five school buildings? This seems to be an issue that none of the school board or administration want to “touch.” Consider the duplication of work, administration, teachers, maintenance, cafeteria staff, upkeep, utilities, etc. Which brings up another point. Do part time employees receive fringe benefits? What about some of the stipends that are paid to administrators and staff just to increase their salaries (e.g. Asbestos Monitor or Coordinator). I thought we had taken care of the asbestos problem and removal years ago (as part of one of several existing bond issues).
Granted there have been cuts in personnel but that’s another question. If the income tax passes will those persons be returned to the staff? If we are able to educate our students without them, did we need them in the first place? As I had stated in my last letter regarding this issue, most public institutions (including schools) are overstaffed and under-utilized. The list of questions could go on and on.
It is my opinion, and that of others that have approached me about this tax levy, that there is still much more to be done before taxes are increased.
One last thought. Why are we having a special election for this issue and what did it cost? I am figuring thousands of dollars (monies that according to the school administration financials we can’t afford to spend to begin with). Why not wait until the November general election. I think that they figured that the majority of voters would not take the time to vote on this one issue.
Be sure to vote on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
Greg Miller,
Delphos

DEAR EDITOR:
President Obama is threatening the most vulnerable members of our society by telling them he will not allow them to get their Social Security checks. He is lying. Social
Security checks are sent 4-5 days before the third as it takes time for transfer to bank (or mail) so he would have to stop them before the deadline.
This is reprehensible. You can be sure every congress member will get their pay checks.
He is doing this because senior citizens are voters and usually vote Republican.
Pass this on, please, so that no one is worried about their money. 
This is not acceptable.
Also, members of the armed services should not have to suffer.
Edythe Dean
Fort Jennings

We would like to send a special thank you to everyone who supported our recent chicken dinner fund-raiser.
A number of individuals worked countless hours planning and preparing for this event to make it a huge success. As a result, we will be able to purchase supplies and pay for additional expenses during the 2011-2012 sports seasons.
Sincerely,
St. John Blue
Jay Cheerleaders

DEAR EDITOR:

GREED

The greed of the oil industry knows no limits. It is terrible that when the economy is showing a little life and some jobs are starting to appear the oil industry stick out its hand and takes the little extra income we have to fill their pockets. Money that could pay bills, take vacations or just make life a little easier.

I wish when the government reviews the large profits from the CEOs of the oil industry, they would ask some real questions. “Why have the oil companies closed more than half of the refineries since the 1970s?” Or “Why aren’t the current refineries at max production to increase supply and lower costs?” Or “Why are they closing more refineries and importing finished products from other countries?”

In my opinion, the government should nationalize the industry for a few years; use the billions and billions of dollars in profit to pay some of the national debt; and build plants to create jobs so Americans can produce goods and back out imports.

I’m sure some of you will call me a communist. So how about this idea: of the hundred closed refineries, why doesn’t the government buy them all and go into the oil business and start some TRUE competition with the oil industry? It should be a win-win. Competition should bring down the price of gas, diesel and jet fuel.

Some may think this impossible, yet China has done this. A few years ago Petro China knocked Exxon out of “the richest oil company in the world” spot.

Just a thought.

Mike Edelbrock

P.S. It would also help the government take away the tax breaks the oil industry gets. Do they really need our tax dollars when they are making billions?