Jeff Jandrey - Letter to Editor

Been reading these pages over the last few weeks, following the efforts of others to clear up some of the confusion encompassing the November school referendum and it’s effect on property taxes. Like most, I’d have likely paid my taxes, with complaint and had forgotten about it by now. The diligence of others and variety of explanation, tends to keep this issue in the public light while casting shade on the whole affair.

Others have done better than I in trying to wring a valid explanation from our board and superintendent of schools and have yet to receive much satisfaction. Not a fan of crowds or public speaking, I applaud their efforts and it’s reportage in these and other pages. 

Though your numbers may differ, the taxes for my humble digs show an amount of about 380 dollars, .0606 % of the voter approved temporary tax, applied to a 792,472 dollar temporary school district increase for 2022, owed yearly till 2048. Is that not the cost of the referendum as applied to my property? Could it be that obvious?

What is obvious is that assessed value of my property was raised by 66% and that increase, if applied to the property tax without some millage rollback, would shift public unease to public unrest quickly. The assessment effects the computations of all property tax calculations. Millage manipulation provides a reduction in the net assessed value rate by about 0.00371013, this year, which helps soften the blow, though I wonder at the ease at which these tiny numbers can be shifted to effect taxation. Also of note is that in spite of letters sent and comments in print, the City of Peshtigo increased it’s portion by 23.6% making any statement that the assessment had no effect disingenuous at best. And look, they all get a nice little bump, the county, city even the tech school, accumulating in 41% ($154.57) of the added revenue. Wonder how they’re going to spend all that extra cash? I wonder if the fair market value increase of 34% just over the last year is accurate as applied to my vintage home. I wonder what would happen if all affected residents request a reassessment? I’m just full of wonder.

So when I see a net property tax increase of 36.6% I think it could be worse and probably will. I’m also pretty sure that what ever the amount, it will never be enough. There will be future referendums and increased levies, more money spent to insure, former money spent is not lost. It’s for the kids, after all, or is it?

Concerned about PSI’s possible involvement in any of the aforementioned I googled them. They tout referendum services on their website so it’s not unreasonable to question the extent of their activities in both this regard and whatever financial or contractual recommendations they make. Googling “Performance Services Inc. lawsuit” garners some interesting results. Not that lawsuits are all that uncommon or indicative of malfeasance.

The referendum and assessment seem to be intertwined and the timing perhaps orchestrated. It seems unusual and convenient that an assessment and referendum effecting property taxes should be held so close together. I wonder what truly triggered the assessment, if the greater cash revenue generated by it was taken into account and why the public seems so woefully misinformed of the impact of both. Pretty sure the facts and figures were available well before the referendum and were not clearly disseminated by those we place our public trust in, both city and school. Plenty of blame to go around.

I voted no on the school referendum. I get that others feel differently. Didn’t do it because I don’t want the kids to have nice things. I just don’t feel right about entrusting all that money to folks so eager to spend it. After all, they put a great deal of time and effort into getting it.

Jeff Jandrey