This isn't the time for Harper tax hike
Recently Harper College began asking residents how they should spend $300 million. Harper College has just recently completed a multimillion dollar addition. I ... was sent a diskette on a new program to renovate the old portion of Harper College that has fallen into disrepair. Apparently while the new buildings were being built no one was watching the older buildings deteriorate. The district is now faced with the prospect of spending as much as $300 million to make the necessary repairs.
I don't claim to have read all 150 pages (on the diskette) but I do understand as a taxpayer that $300 million over the next 10 years is unacceptable. Every time you open a newspaper you are advised of how difficult our economy is, that thousands of people are losing their jobs, that the value of people's homes have significantly depreciated and that tax revenues most certainly will be reduced.
It seems Harper is relying on inexpensive bonds to pay this enormous sum of money. These bonds are actually (like) a credit card that carries an interest rate and at some point has to be repaid. With the ever-increasing federal deficit and our need to prepare for the return of our brave service men and women we can expect the deficit to grow. There is nothing more important than making sure veterans receive the best care available. They have risked their lives for almost seven years and in many cases have suffered emotional and physical injuries that few of us can comprehend.
Harper needs to make a decision - more building repairs or fewer teachers, as we cannot afford both. Citizens (should) contact the college and advise them that any plan which involves the expenditure of millions of dollars needs to be shelved until the economy improves.
Perhaps Harper can also secure a more objective opinion on what needs to be done; the present plan is a function of private consultants and Harper staff. I am concerned that allowing the Harper staff to make recommendations is perhaps not as objective as an outside consultant might be.
Michael Victor
Schaumburg