Page 2— Vernonia Freedom
Thursday June 25,1981
Reader sees higher costs in 47 J levy
To the Editor:
If the proposed scliool levy passes
on June 30, and the proposed budget
of $2,213,211* is approved, it will
cost the taxpayers of this district,
county,
state,
and
country
approximately $3,161.73* per school
year (178 «days) to send one child to
school« here in the Vernonia School
District. That amounts to $17.20* a
day and $344* a month. $344 a month
just for one child! If the levy passes it
will raise property homeowners taxes,
whether they live in Vernonia, Mist or
Birkenfeld, by over one-third and
nearly double what the school district
now receives. This is how much
they’d actually be paying more per
year if the levy passes:
Assessed Value
Taxes Levied
$20,000
'
$125
25,000
156
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
187
218
250
281
312
376
437
500
If the taxpayers of this district
cannot afford to pay more property
taxes I urge them to vote NO on the
proposed levy..
If the taxpayers of this district
know that there is no guarantee that
the
federal
government
will
reimburse them through lower
income taxes I urge them to vote No
on the proposed levy.
If the taxpayers of this district feel
that the Fed’s will give them an
income tax break I urge them to vote
NO on the proposed levy. (Isn’t it
reasonable that they deserve a
break?)
Most of all, if the taxpayers of this
district realize that there is a real
threat to their State Property Tax
Relief, absolute vote NO on the
proposed levy
Roberta Williams
f Vernonia, Oregon
♦Most of my information was so
kindly provided by the Vernonia
School Superintendent’s Office. The
figure of $2,213,211 was given by Mr.
Parrow at the June 16 meeting. To
obtain the $3,161.73 figure I divided
700 (students) into $2,213,211. Then I
divided 178 (days) into $3,161.73 to
obtain $17.20. I then multiplied
$17.20 by 20 (assuming there are 20
days that the children go to school in
a month), to obtain $344. The actual
taxes levied was multiplied $6.25 by
the assessed value of the property.
I understand that there is some
concern about the fact that I brought
Congressional hearings to the State
of Oregon recently. I would like to
comment briefly on those concerns.
I came to Congress six years ago.
During all of that time I have
watched my colleagues, and I am sad
to say that what a lot of people think,
is true—most members of Congress
do seem to have an attitude of “the
public be damned, we know what is
best.’’
I have always figured Oregonians
were different in that they did not
have that sort of attitude, and did not
want their representatives to have3
that attidue. So, it was with some
special sadness that I note that
elected
Oregon
representatives
oppose my having held Congressional
hearings in Oregon recently. I’ve
always felt it is pretty important to
give people—real people, everyday
people—a chance to take part in
government. So, in my six years in
Congress, I have made it a point to
bring Congressional business to the
state as often as possible. In
particular, I’ve made it a point to
hold numerous hearings in Oregon
over the years.
There is a good reason for this. A
funny thing happens when the only
place you
hold hearings is
Washington, D.C. The only people
you hearing from are career
bureaucrats, highly paid lobbyists, or
people who can afford to pay the
thousand dollars it costs to fly back
to Washington, stay in high-priced
hotels and wine and dine their
Congressman. That is who usually
testifies at Congressional hearings.
The result? Too often it is one-sided
legislation that benefits just the
bureaucrats,
or
the
special
interests...not the people. J don’t
think that is right. So, I have held
hearings in places like LaGrande,
Corvallis, Medford and other small
towns in Oregon; because, I think it is
pretty important to hear what people
who live and work in those towns
have to say about legislation that will
affect them. I have been holding
hearings in Oregon for years—it is not
a new development. And, by the way,
it is not politically motivated.
Anyone who is running for office is
hardly going to try to enhance his
image by travelling to LaGrande and
Pendleton to talk about herbicides
and wilderness.
Frankly, I don’t believe my position
on those issues is particularly popular
with a*lot of folks in those areas. But,
I believe in letting people know how I
feel; and, I want to make sure I hear
what the people have to say as well.
At my hearings in LaGrande, last
month, I heard from senior citizens,
housewives, fly fisherman, teachers,
farmers, small town Chamber of
Commerce representatives,
and
dozens of other just plain folks. That
is what I came to hear. And I brought
the Chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Public Lands and
National Parks, John Seiberling (D-
Vernonia Freedom
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Dennis Dobson.......................................................
publisher-editor
Ann Dobson.................. a.......................................publisher-business manager
Ohio), with-me. I think the people of
Oregon—the real people, not the
lobbyists,
dr
the
corporate
representatives—deserve no less.
I doubt if many of the people who
took part in my hearings will ever get
a chance to go to Washington, D.C. to
testify in Congressional hearings, or
will ever get a chance to tell two
House Subcommittee Chairman their
concerns. That is why I came.
Because I think it is important to
hear what the people in Oregon have
to say.
I would like to add one other thing.
I hope others share my feeling of
regret that some legislators from
Oregon, a state that has prided itself
on openness in government, oppose
my holding hearings in Oregon.
People have been mad at government
for a long time because government
hasn’t cared enough to listen to what
the people have had to say. It’s up to
legislators at all levels to change this
and give people reason to trust their
government again.
As long as those in government are
saying “keep the doors shut; it’sa
business as usual”, that trust may be
a long time coming. I intend to work
in Washington, D.C. and in Oregon to
give people back their trust in
government.
Jim Weaver
Member of Congress
|
I
MEMBER
429-8111
THE N.V.R.P.. (swimming pool
project) and the Rebekah Lodge are
sponsoring the Pancake Breakfast for
this year’s Jamboree. Six teenagers
are needed for waitressing. They will
be paid for just two hours work.
Several adults are also needed. Please
call Mary Self at 429-4102 if you can
help out.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
Chip Bubl, the Columbia County
Extension Agent, will be in Vernonia
every other week starting Friday,
March 27. He can be reached from
9:30 am -12 noon at the West Oregon
Electric Co-op. The afternoons will be
reserved for farm visits. If you would
like more information call 397-3462.
Vernonians are .reminded once
again that when they need a police
officer they will get a quicker
response by dialing 429-5141 than
they will by trying to find an officer
at home or out on patrol. Faster, more
complete service will also be received
by allowing the officer on duty to
handle your call rather -than by
disturbing off-duty officers.
ST. HELENS JAYCEES
The St. Helens Jay cees are
sponsoring their annual Port-O-Fun
celebration from June 24 through
June 28 in St. Helens, Oregon. Thjs
year’s activities include food and fun
booths
run
by
local
civic
organizations, the carnival, sailboat
races, the “Fun Run” marathon, a
horse show, the Jay cees beer tent
featuring Dr. Korn and His Bluegrass
Band, and the big parade on
Saturday, June 28. The new location
is along the Columbia River in Old
Town St. Helens.
COMMUNITY STORE MEETING
Vernonia Community Store will
hold their annual meeting July 14,
1981 at 7:30 pm at the Senior Center.
All members aré urged to attend.
The response for the clam chowder
feed was fair. Fund raising events for
the Vernonia Community Store are
planned for Jamboree time. All
monies will go for the purchase of a
new scale.
Mary Wohlfarth
| Please renew my subscription to the
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Vernonia Freedom
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PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
REMINDER
Weaver defends practice of hearings
To the Editor:
announcements
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825Bridge St.
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