tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post8858726305086966836..comments2021-12-07T01:03:46.741-05:00Comments on Middle Bass Island Editorials: Middle Bass property owners unpleasantly surprised by real estate tax billsMike Gorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04402667224687572273noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-58212005932604543752010-08-10T09:05:24.507-04:002010-08-10T09:05:24.507-04:00MBI effective millage rate is 9.4 for schools whil...MBI effective millage rate is 9.4 for schools while PBI effective rate is 21 for schools. Consolidating into PIB would raise taxes by over 50% on Middle Bass. You would also lose control as PIB has many, many more voters!!! THINK before you put anything into ACTION.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-56848077643925996162010-02-21T10:01:25.231-05:002010-02-21T10:01:25.231-05:00While people may be up in arms with the error the ...While people may be up in arms with the error the school board has made, Jim is correct, our taxes fund the MBI school/students education. That is how it is done across Ohio right or wrong. The responsibility of the school board is to responsibly collect and spend the taxpayers money in the education of the local students. Presently it appears this is what is in question in both respects.<br /><br />At this point in the discussion not to put more fuel on this than is already present, but the bottom line is the part time residents who by numbers most likely pay the majority of the taxes on the island have no say and will never have any say in how the money is spent or allocated. In the end I would also bet that the full time residents don't really care one way or the other what "we" think about the situation. They will continue to spend our tax dollars as they have in the past. <br /><br />All that can be done from the non voting public end is to access the required documents and reports the school board is mandated to file with the state and auditor. If you feel they are out of line.... make a phone call.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-70878017753508764802010-02-21T07:15:20.453-05:002010-02-21T07:15:20.453-05:00Jim, do a search on "deviant curriculum"...Jim, do a search on "deviant curriculum". It just seems to mean a non-standard curriculum.Mike Gorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04402667224687572273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-52230174478585464992010-02-20T12:00:01.738-05:002010-02-20T12:00:01.738-05:00Jim, these are not my kids nor my responsibility.Jim, these are not my kids nor my responsibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-51839121164546363952010-02-20T11:57:12.143-05:002010-02-20T11:57:12.143-05:00If you want to live on a small island without a sc...If you want to live on a small island without a school, home school your children. Furthermore, why are tax payers paying for trips to the mainland. We need to investigate expenditures.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-27155533617940758912010-02-19T15:16:46.640-05:002010-02-19T15:16:46.640-05:00I have never heard of the term, so I went to the O...I have never heard of the term, so I went to the ODE website and did a search for "deviated curriculum". It came back "no results". I also did a search for "differentiated curriculum" but only came up with programs for academically gifted students. Can someone enlighten me? What is it and how would it benefit MBI?Jim Benedictnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-55097431483342059492010-02-18T22:09:38.084-05:002010-02-18T22:09:38.084-05:00I really hate to say anything but I have been out ...I really hate to say anything but I have been out of town so much this year I can't seem to get home for a school board meeting. So here it is has anyone ever thought of a "Deviated Curriculum" for the M.B.I. student's??? I think it's still an option in the state of Ohio,since we are paying more than twice what it would cost per student to send them to Western Reserve Academy! The last time I checked a year,or two ago the cost included room and board. I'm not suggesting the latter it's just for comparison of what you can get for that kind of money!!! One last thing I'm a little cornfused on, what extra student are some people referencing, I was only aware of one student replacing the one that left???Marty Haraydanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-92199372867363906422010-02-18T11:37:11.472-05:002010-02-18T11:37:11.472-05:00Jim, so long as a comment is on topic and doesn...Jim, so long as a comment is on topic and doesn't use foul language, I will publish it. I agree that name calling of any sort is not polite, but do want to document the opinions of the community.Mike Gorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04402667224687572273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-69070062678933994472010-02-18T11:06:50.038-05:002010-02-18T11:06:50.038-05:00I don't know if Mike will post this, but I do ...I don't know if Mike will post this, but I do have serious reservations about charges of anyone being "cowardly" or "uneducated" when when the accuser signs their post "Anonymous". I figure that if what I say is my honest opinion, then I'm going to stand up a be counted - including my mistakes. P.S. The board cannot anticipate who will or will not move to the island, or if they will have children. If "we" own property on MBI, these are "our" kids.Jim Benedictnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-25807720372243225282010-02-18T09:14:38.510-05:002010-02-18T09:14:38.510-05:00Bud.
It worked on North Bass? When we decided to c...Bud.<br />It worked on North Bass? When we decided to close the school, we found it was a wash. It cost as much to fly the teacher in, pay her wages and maintain the building, as it cost to send our kids to the Bay. In our case it cost $18,000 for transportation and $33,000 for tuition. You can't touch a teacher for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-67327341352777478692010-02-18T08:43:13.616-05:002010-02-18T08:43:13.616-05:00I am in agreement that a statement should come fro...I am in agreement that a statement should come from the board since it has financially impacted every taxpayer on the island. Hopefully we will see one in the near future once they themselves have some answers and a way to rectify their errors. <br /><br />Unfortunately, as it has been stated previously, the majority of property owners do not have a say (at the voting booth) as to who is or is not on the school board, or on the various levies put on the ballot whether it be school related or not. <br /><br />Maybe with this current situation people who may not be able to officially vote will become proactive participants with regard to attending board meetings (hard to do during winter)and ask questions to where and how their money is being spent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-89905762796562818912010-02-18T07:58:08.468-05:002010-02-18T07:58:08.468-05:00While the school board may not have been cowardly,...While the school board may not have been cowardly, they do need to be criticized for (a) making this mistake in the first place and (b) not speaking out publicly with any apology or at least explanation. If it weren't for this web site, there wouldn't be any info at all about what is really going on. And I'm still not sure what happened or what is going to happen. Come on school board. Please tell us something from your perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-67926462892626370292010-02-18T06:52:31.859-05:002010-02-18T06:52:31.859-05:00OK.....So someone calls the School Board's act...OK.....So someone calls the School Board's acts cowardly??? I think if you are going to do that then you should at least in the same breath call them responsible and thoughtful for not collecting all the monies available to them in the past when their annual budget did not require it. <br /><br />All of that "back millage" was voted on and that is why it was availble to access.<br /><br />I don't like the situation anymore than anyone else, but to start accusing the board of acting cowardly does nothing to help the situation. <br /><br />Now it may be a good idea for the School Board to work with the auditor and take some steps to adjust the items currently on the books so this doesn't happen again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-6427700385007187872010-02-17T19:49:55.862-05:002010-02-17T19:49:55.862-05:00Jim-
The school board acted in haste period. Their...Jim-<br />The school board acted in haste period. Their act was cowardly at best. Ifthey had a clue they were going to need money, which they should have seen coming for the past couple of years, then why not propose an appropriate levy on the ballot. If fears of failure were looming, they had this back up plan that they could have jammed down our throats. By the way, how about the annual "Christmas Party" paid for by the School Board? Should this be a function that benefits most only the winter residents on the island at the taxpayers expense when the district is bust???? Please, their decisions were uneducated at best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-4198649137333278152010-02-16T11:14:09.920-05:002010-02-16T11:14:09.920-05:00How about reinstating the one-room schoolhouse on ...How about reinstating the one-room schoolhouse on the island? It worked on North Bass so long as they had enough students. And we already have the teacher based on Middle Bass.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-91020192610971245212010-02-16T10:56:12.045-05:002010-02-16T10:56:12.045-05:00I think in the past there have been students from ...I think in the past there have been students from PIB who did commute daily to Port Clinton (could be wrong on this one). This would require daily flights and the "host family/residence" in case of bad weather. I too am in agreement that it is not likely benefical to transport students to mainland on a daily basis via air for a variety of reasons. There would also be the issue of transportation to and from the airport. <br /><br />The only reason for my post previously was to indicate there are possible alternatives and in such situations all avenues should be explored for the decision making process as well as showing the ones with concerns regarding their tax money, that the current board does have a signifcant burden in which they must weigh many factors. In the end the students education and safety comes first in my book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-76769845096963708862010-02-16T10:06:41.609-05:002010-02-16T10:06:41.609-05:00The post that there are many school districts that...The post that there are many school districts that accept out of district students without tuition is correct, and my post was wrong. My apology. I guess it's what happens when you retire and just assume that things are same instead of checking the facts. This time I checked. Application is by the family for each individual child, with no guarantees of accpetance. It is not a district agreement to take all students who apply. Acceptance is for one year only. In factr, many districts that are open are highly selective. This is only the third year for Port Clinton, and circumstances can change. I liked the phrase "significant logistical issues." Daily transporation to Port Clinton would not seem to be possible. We would have to pay for a host family to provide room and board, probably on a weekly basis, and would still have a weekly transportation cost. However, the big thing is the personal, social, and psychological cost to the children and their families if their children are shipped offf to "boarding" school because the summer people don't want to pay taxes. The entire idea is wrong. It may save money, but it is wrong. The school board needed to do what is best for the students. It did not have any GOOD choices. I'm cheap and I hate paying taxes I can't vote on, but I think the school board did the best they could, and made the correct responsible decisions.Jim Benedictnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-60754205788949161102010-02-16T07:34:42.456-05:002010-02-16T07:34:42.456-05:00Good comments on Ohio HB-920, Many school district...Good comments on Ohio HB-920, Many school districts in Ohio are suffering at the hands of 920. Regarding at the loss of property from the tax base, I looked into that a number of years ago and properties like Hanck's Pond were paying just $500 or so dollars a year in taxes. I don't think the other wetland or even the Lonz Agricultural zones were paying very much in taxes annually. What is really puzzling is the lack of enforcement of unpaid back taxes on lot's on the Island, in some cases 10's of Thousands of Dollars are owed and the County has done nothing about it. Also, we are all fortunate to have appraised values that are in most cases significantly less than the actual value of MBI properties. If the auditors office ever really looked at this everyone at MBI would be looking at a significantly larger tax bill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-86236234208223939682010-02-15T09:47:30.151-05:002010-02-15T09:47:30.151-05:00The district and surrounding districts in which I ...The district and surrounding districts in which I work all have open enrollment policies that allow for students to apply and if space permitting, along with a few other requirements are allowed to attend without further tuition than what state money follows the student. Go to the ODE websight and you will find the list of all districts in Ohio. Each district by law has to have a policy in place. There are many that do not allow it for various reasons.<br /><br />From looking at the list on the ODE websight, Port Clinton does allow students to open enroll.<br />Furthermore if you go to the Port Clinton School Distrit websight you will see they accept students K-12.<br /><br />PIB,NBI,MBI and Kelly's all do not accept open enrollment students. I can see why based on the unique circumstances the districts are in. <br /><br />Even with incurred transportation costs, I would be curious to see what the overall cost savings would be in sending the students to mainland.<br /><br />There would be some significant logistical issues to be resolved as well if this were to occur that would also cost money. <br /><br /> I am in agreement with one of the last posts, it is important that while most property owners on the island cannot vote for who manages the school funds or how the funds are allocated, we can be proactive particpants.<br /><br />I am confident the MBI School Board Members did not see this coming for a variety of reasons. If this money issue had not come to the forefront, it would be business and spending as usual. <br /><br />In the end the board will be saddled with the balancing their fiscal responsibilty to the taxpayers/community as well as the safety and education of the students on MBI.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-62065304888520628512010-02-14T19:52:43.363-05:002010-02-14T19:52:43.363-05:00I think the task at hand is to get involved and be...I think the task at hand is to get involved and be attentive to what our elected school board members are doing. I also agree that the costs associated are outrageous, and the option of mainland school needs to be explored. The exhuberant spending that PIB schools exhibit for traveling to the mainland, etc all comes into play. Just a month ago, there was a field trip to the mainland, that was unable to return due to a PREDICTED snow storm. So what happened? All the students were put up in a hotel! (LOL). The school board members need to understand they are running a business, and this is not a game. Also, I don't think the previous comment about how much people have done for the island constitutes exemption from eing held to be responsible for the tasks at hand! Generations, as said, have made fortunes from their efforts, as they are entitled, however, that does not mean they can slide through their decisions without responsibility. Also, I understand that the new revised amount to actually be retained is MORE than needed, and being earmarked for a rebuilding of reserves! This I find is pure crap. I can't think of a school district that has reserves these days!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-68685733401927833652010-02-14T19:08:47.889-05:002010-02-14T19:08:47.889-05:00First, in 2007 PIB spent 28,000+ on its own studen...First, in 2007 PIB spent 28,000+ on its own students. That figure was not tutition for out of district students. The amount is so high because of the cost of having a school on the islands. Second, Open enrollment is normally used for a district that will accept out of district students provided they pay the posted tuition. In my over 30 years in education, I can't name one school that accepted out of district students and waived the tuition. In this case, it would amount to PIB subsidizing the MBI students to the tune of more than $22,000 or so each. By the way, my figures for 2007 came from the State Department of Educations posted figures, and Kelleys Island was No. 1, spending more than $48,000 on each of their own students. Love island schools.Jim Benedictnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-51029241836023857152010-02-14T17:39:19.644-05:002010-02-14T17:39:19.644-05:00So what dose it cost per child...total? I'm es...So what dose it cost per child...total? I'm estimating $45,000. This is outragious. Send them to the main land. It is not my responsibility to pay outragious fees per child because one wants to live on an island. This is foolish. Many localites have cut bussing in order to save money, did the school board consider this option?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-37133815840561671822010-02-14T11:59:23.157-05:002010-02-14T11:59:23.157-05:00I think you would be surprised at how little in pr...I think you would be surprised at how little in property taxes the Lonz property actually paid compared to the overall acreage, due to it all being all in agriculture. <br /><br />As Jim B. said, the State has the reputation (comes by it naturally) of not being a good neighbor. In the end they don't care what the local citizens want or require. How true, look at how they have priced most on the island out of the seasonal dockage in their new marina. They do not care. <br /><br />To keep the discussion on track I think it is important to go back to the reasons why the costs are so significant for the students on MBI to attend PIB schools. It would be great for one of the school board members or someone who can get the actual numbers to post them here. <br /><br />I think when the dust settles, you will see the majority of the costs are tied directly to the PIB's school board decision to charge tution instead of having an open enrollment policy striclty for MBI and NBI students. If they cannot have an open enrollment policy due to ORC, then a simple Superintendant's agreement would allow for the same to occur. They would take the alloted States money per pupil like any other district in Ohio that has open enrollment and that would be that. <br /><br />What are the chances though that the PIB school board would allow all that money they currently rake in to go by the wayside? I think the MBI school board may have a little more leverage in all this than they realize. Just look at the dollars their few students bring to the general fund of PIB? <br /><br />I also do not think that 28,000 -30,000 per student includes transportation costs. I wonder if the transportation goes through a formal bidding process annually since the MBI School is a public school?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-86729415917176023682010-02-13T21:10:38.919-05:002010-02-13T21:10:38.919-05:00Exactly!
Wish everyone understood this ten years ...Exactly!<br /> Wish everyone understood this ten years ago when the state was wanting to gobble up the south end of middle bass(LONZ Properties). When a property just sits idle and does nothing, it is never good for an economy--or the people of the community..Think of it this way...Back in 2000,how much electricity do you suppose was consumed by the Winery,the 2 dorms,and the mansion? ALOT!!! Now how about 2001- 2009? BARELY ANY!!! Not good for the economy or a union Electrical worker! It is not benficial to Middle Bass--or the students of Middle Bass-- for the state to let the LONZ properties fall into ruin.There once was a thriving business paying lots of income tax and land taxes--just 10 short years ago--.Now there's simply a state owned property,that the state is letting the buildings fall down due to NO maintenance.The property owners of Middle Bass will have to pick up the slack. The ole state park project isn't quite pannin' out like the state said.ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332668575834691888.post-3739753201097594392010-02-13T20:04:03.279-05:002010-02-13T20:04:03.279-05:00amazing.
so now were allowed to just decide the a...amazing.<br /> so now were allowed to just decide the amount of tax we want to pay for the year--or at least your husband is! I'm seriously sitting here laughing at the foolishness of that statement.Thank you for the laugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com