No to school bond — not yet, at least

The Cedar Rapids school board is pulling out of the stops to obtain the 6,300 signatures required to get their $220 million bond referendum placed on this November’s ballot. This, despite numerous protestations from elderly taxpayers who live on fixed incomes; and who can barely afford the already steep annual property taxes currently levied against their homes within the city's limits.

“This referendum will only raise the annual property tax by $282 per year for a period of 20 years on a $200,000 home,” claim the bond’s authors. Tell you what, folks — that $282 can still buy one fiscal quarter's worth of our prescription meds; 75 gallons of 2 percent milk; 100 loaves of bread or 70 pounds of cheap ground beef.

The voters have yet to see the complete demographic illustrating the tangible need, demand or any return on investment regarding this proposal. As voters, we need more time to wrap our minds around this. People on fixed incomes could lose their homes; which would be the legacy of this proposal.

The mere thought of the possible outcome of a November ballot vote on this matter is devastating. The Linn-Mar and Ankeny school districts have already managed to drive out hundreds of elderly homeowners living on fixed incomes during the past 10 years with their excessive bond issues and property tax increases. I would hate for that to happen to me and other lifelong elderly Cedar Rapids residents.

Dann Myers

Cedar Rapids