Parcel tax won’t help

Dear Editor,

As a Realtor, I make a living dealing with people who are upside down on their house — owing more than their house is worth. I am constantly counseling people
who don’t know what to do and where to turn. Twenty percent of all properties on the market in Pleasanton are either in foreclosure or in short sale. They can’t afford their house payment, can’t retire, can’t refinance, can’t sell, can’t downsize, can’t modify their loan — they are out of options.

Homeowners are having a tough time right now. So are the teachers.  But charging a parcel tax is not going to help anyone. Also $98 may not sound like much, but if a homeowner can’t make their payment it’s a fortune. If you want
to help a teacher, give them the $98; don’t force all homeowners to give $98 when you know a large part of that will go toward administration, not the classrooms.

We have been through this with the lottery — remember, that money was supposed to take care of our schools. California’s top individual income tax rate is the third highest in the nation and we have the highest sales tax in the
country. California’s business tax climate ranks 49th in the nation and our income tax rate is the highest among western states.

Another tax? When, and where, will it end? It is time to draw the line. Stop increasing taxes and demand accountability. We need those who run our schools and government to get their house in order and make needed cutbacks
to their budgets instead.

Connie Cox