LAUREL -- To Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, not so much for his novel assessment idea, right or wrong, but for stating that Allegheny County school districts continue to bilk taxpayers by refusing to adhere to the state 5 percent windfall law during a new assessment. Dan also has not hesitated to lobby our lawmakers in Harrisburg to attempt to protect taxpayers more efficiently and look into other methods of funding schools. Fat chance, since these guys seem to be able to only pass wage increases or taxes overnight.
LANCE -- To all state lawmakers for not abolishing the windfall and replacing it with a revenue-neutral law that holds school boards responsible for not adhering to it.
LANCE -- To Gov. Rendell and the Legislature for not passing a referendum law similar to many other states', exclusive of Act 72, that would bring all state school districts under a ruling similar to the one they may have to abide by if they accept the gambling Act 72 requirement -- which they are hesitant to do for obvious reasons -- and to these same lawmakers for consistently caving in to the school boards' and teachers unions' demands to get re-elected.
LANCE -- To any school district that sues to prevent the current novel assessment idea from becoming law. These would be the same districts that break the windfall law every time there is an assessment.
LANCE -- To the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for heavily covering the so-called fairness of the most recent assessments -- with no proof that they are fair.
W.J. Maro
Jefferson Hills
