What now? Solutions needed for Columbia schools. Here are some options.

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http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/what-now-solutions-needed-for-columbia-schools-here-are-some/article_a6084e44-fca0-11e3-bf37-0017a43b2370.html

Comments

Anonymous said…
One of the main problems with our district is the high number of rentals and the disproportionate amount of children in school vs. those paying property tax. A reasonable solution seems to be enacting a rental tax either paid by the tenant or the landlord! Instead of taxing a home with 4 units as a single property why can't the borough tax each unit individually so that there is an equal burden on all housing units in the town?
June 29, 2014 at 9:06 PM
Joe Lintner said…
Excellent suggestion
June 29, 2014 at 9:29 PM
Anonymous said…
The schools enrollment has hardly changed in decades. Most of these multiunits were created long ago. Its just the cost of running the school has gone up dramatically. It sure didn't help that the school had to have that Taj Majal of an admin building.
June 29, 2014 at 10:47 PM
Anonymous said…
The rental units must be tax as one, and only one building so the Land lords make a killing on section 8's Its all about making MONEY and More MONEY!!!!
July 1, 2014 at 3:48 PM
Anonymous said…
Lets get moving on consolidating with one of our neighbors & stop fighting the inevitable. I don't care who they bring in as a superintendant, there's no magic wand that will make the numbers work. They can only bankrupt our citizens with crazy high taxes.
July 1, 2014 at 4:29 PM
Anonymous said…
Columbia needs to convert residential properties to commercial properties that pay higher taxes with no students to cost 15k each
July 1, 2014 at 7:17 PM
Anonymous said…
What is 15k
Taxes or the sale price of the property
July 1, 2014 at 8:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Each student that goes to one of Columbia's schools costs 15k per year.....so basically any residence with at least one student costs other tax payers. No home in Columbia pays 15k in school tax
July 2, 2014 at 2:03 PM
Anonymous said…
How do you plan on bringing businesses in to Columbia where the taxes are almost double our surrounding neighbors. All they do is setup shop just outside the boro limits & the people come to them. Also most of the small businesses we used to have on Locust St were done in by internet based co
July 2, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Anonymous said…
You have to add the cost of teachers and other things.
July 2, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Anonymous said…
I did not say it is easy. But Columbia could enact policies that could help. I also think that those shops that are setting up outside of Columbia are paying higher rent then in Columbia. Additionally if we went to our local businesses more they would thrive and convince other businesses to move here. It all depends on how much all of us in Columbia really want to improve our town.
July 6, 2014 at 8:09 AM
Anonymous said…
bottom line is....been saying this for years...YES....tax every renter in the Boro and those with children tax them more. the free life is over. we homeowners, paying taxes can NOT afford to carry all these renters any more. stop this insanity. turn back all these rental properties into single owned family homes again. boro...do something beneficial for all the taxpayers. this needs to be front page news again.
July 30, 2014 at 7:01 AM
Anonymous said…
the boro needs to step up and make opening a business in our town a positive! must find a way to attract new little businesses...wheres the CEDC in all this?? isn't this part of their mission?? is anyone promoting the boro??? apparently not.

i agree. must tax all renters....increase the 6% sales tax....encourage rental properties to return to single owned homes....STOP the exorbitant spending on personal agendas...like River Park...tsk tsk the MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON THIS IS LUDACRIS.
August 2, 2014 at 9:11 AM
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