I have to address the upcoming primaries.

Real estate taxes have gone up 3 times the rate of inflation with my school tax alone, yet income and homes have not.

The math is concerning in Panther Valley. They state the average income for the area is $40,000 — citing the lawsuit with the state. Yet, the board wants to build a $67 million school. Last year it was reported that a $20 million addition was going to be added to keep that cost down and board members did NOT want to put this harsh burden on taxpayers.

Right now taxpayers are paying for the middle school built in 2007.

Coaldale is facing new assessment rates and they will face higher taxes.

The rest of Panther Valley is not in any better shape. There will be new tax assessments down the road.

People’s home assessments may go up but that does not mean their income is going up.

A small rebate is given to some low income taxpayers from the state but it is a pittance in what they pay in property taxes.

I saw the school use the Homestead Act as a reason to raise taxes last year, which made no sense. The state is sending them money from gambling to offset that issue. One can easy access the state education site to see what they are getting and it is well over $1 million for the Homestead Act. They are NOT losing money.

The poor do not get a discount — in the cities many programs help poor taxpayers. They even freeze their taxes. Those programs do not exist here. So we see people lose homes over property taxes.

Think about whom you vote for — not just this year but down the road. As I went into retirement I never expected my total taxes to be 13% of my income.

Panther Valley has zero contact information for board members on their website. Every other school district in the area offers emails and/or phone numbers to contact board members. Why doesn’t Panther Valley?

Other school districts in the state put their full budget up for the public to look over.

You, the taxpayers are in charge and should demand more accountability.

Celeste Bybel

Summit Hill