Question Manatee County School District before voting on sales-tax extension

Before asking the taxpayers to extend the sales tax, the Manatee County School District needs to have more bonds audited. Until this is done, I along with a huge percentage of Manatee taxpayers will be saying "no" at the ballot box.

In 2002, the school district pledged to the taxpayers that the sales tax would be a "pay as you go." Do you think they keep their word?

On top of that, in 2010, Bob Gause, chairman of the school board, cancelled impact fees. Had the district continued to collect the impact fees, the area north of the river would have had a school? Had the monies not been suspended, this school district could have accomplished all of Manatee school district's children.

At the last school board meeting, Mr. Gause did his best to fault the state for cutting back on monies for education. Where does Mr. Gause think the money comes from? Taxpayers in just another form?

Is Mr. Gause complaining that he's not getting enough money from the taxpayers so now he and his board are talking about extending the sales tax? I don't blame Mr. Gause for wanting more money for schools because he gets money by way of his position and then his company receives monies from the construction companies that built the schools that he recuses himself. This is a very well thought out and nice finance package.

Demand more sales tax bonds to be audited before voting this coming election.

Peggy Martin

Bradenton

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Question Manatee County School District before voting on sales-tax extension ."