Before you decide to raise property taxes, give me time to sell! These taxes are getting ridiculous!

Taxes were mentioned at the DHS meeting and we were specific that property taxes should be increased for a certain period of time and earmarked.

sell and go where, herman? prop taxes would still be among the lowest in the nation even with a substantial increase!

How is any of this going to address the graduation rate and poverty issues in DCS?

Alabama's taxes compared to states like Pennsylvania's are about a third! However, that is not the full picture. Their salaries are about three times ours also. When you multiply our wages times three, then it will be acceptable to discuss taxing us times three. Let's tell the truth here. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The majority of people in Decatur make less than $25K annually. (Watch someone say these are not propety owners! Well if you raise the landlord's costs, he will pass it on to the renters!) Many of these are already in foreclosure. How will raising their taxes help them? The reality is that there is no single "push of the button" solution. We took 40 years getting here. Perhaps we should look at the ingredients that contributed to our problem. What are we continuing to do that we have been doing for 40 years? Workforce development and education are part of the answer. But what aspect of our "manufacturing based local economy" is not contributing to our schools? Why are schools outside Decatur finding money to build and Decatur is not? The answer will appear if you think about it!

Charles that is just garbage. Teachers in Pennsylvania make approximately 9 thousand dollars a year more than in Alabama. That's not three times as much. You are creating facts to suit your own purposes. Our city leaders are great at saying things to make you think they know what they are talking about but really they are completely lost. Charles Kirby is the dumbest city council person we have ever had.

I love the way people from up north like to come here and tell us our taxes are too low. There are many, many advantages to living in the south and this is just one of them. New buildings will do nothing for the level of education offered in our schools. It is what it is, which by the way is very good. As far as the poverty level, what do you think we should do? If people want to go to our schools, get a good education and apply themselves, they will dig themselves out of poverty. I am so tired of everyone wanting the government to fix their problems and take care of them. Granted, this is where Obama is taking us, but for now at least, we have the choice. It's yours to make. Get an education and make something of yourself or live in poverty. And I hope, Decatur doesn't live beyond its means, just to "keep up with the Joneses." Everyone living here can certainly not afford higher taxes and this will be just the beginning of what we face in January. Dr. Nichols will do an excellent job of coming up with a plan that will benefit Decatur and not put us in a tremendous amount of debt that we cannnot afford.

Article above never mentioned teachers salaries.....William. You are not near a smart as you think. The statement was wages in general and taxes. These were the things stated by others, not me. Get a clue, get a life, then get over yourself. If you and I are always in the same room, I can NEVER be worse than 2nd dumbest.

Show me anything where salaries in Pennsylvania are three times those in Alabama. Anything. You are a windbag who knows nothing and simply enjoys hearing himself talk. I just used teachers as an example. In 2009 the average household salary was 40,400 on alabama. For you to be correct, it would have to be 120,000 in Pennsylvania. It wasn't. It was 49,500. You are either just dumb. Or you are a liar. Probably both.