As citizens of this community, all of you know by now that we have faced numerous hardships over the past decade. One of these hardships has been with the increasing tax hikes that the Carthage Central School District passes annually. Our tax base has been weakened, and we need to reorganize and make better use of the resources that we already have. With the intentional tax rate of 9.8 percent, it's only going to make all of us struggle just that much more.

As a community we must be heard, even now since the levy has been reduced 6.8 percent.

I do not want to come off as "anti-special education." I am ecstatic that the special education teaching positions have been reinstated, but on record, it needs to be proven to us that it will be reinstated. As a whole we need to discover who is credible and accountable for making these cuts. Currently, we need to make sure that our existing resources are being used to the greatest advantage.

There are also questions to be asked on such words as hypothetical, overservicing and overclassifying. Why is it necessary to be using these terms with our children's education at stake? These are all issues that need to be addressed with concern.

The focus of this letter is to not attract votes for myself. This letter is focused on the faithful members of the Carthage Central School District to stand up and question the powers that be, and most of all tell them we do not believe that we need to be left in the dark on all the issues that concern us as taxpayers and parents. I would like to remove the filter to all of those who have questions, to be a sounding board if you will, for the community. Whether it is staff, elected officials or residents of this community, I want to work for the people, and by doing that, my ear is open to all of your concerns.

With that I have to tip my hat to all of the elected officials who are doing what we asked them to do when we voted them into office. They are asking questions, and they are receiving answers from the superintendent. They not only represent their position, but they represent those who had the confidence to vote for them, to speak for us.

Regardless of your views, do something that you have been given the right to do. On May 20, please vote on the Carthage Central school budget.

Bill Sochia

Carthage