Brandywine criticized on taxes again
By Phoebe Sweet
Reading Eagle

Brandywine Heights residents angry about the district’s tax rate the highest in Berks County at 26.15 mills again vented their frustrations to the school board Monday.

Some of the more than 45 people at the tense meeting shouted at the board during the public-comment period.

“Our votes don’t count,” yelled one father, angry because Brandywine schools don’t provide supplies such as colored pencils and markers to grade-school students.

Dr. John P. Curtin, superintendent, said the district pays for basic supplies, which sometimes include colored pencils and markers, but cannot afford to provide all the extras.

Other residents were angry about the $100,000 lost on cafeteria service last year; the ongoing negotiations with the teachers’ union; the cost of a $7,603 batting cage being considered by the board; and a more than $2 million surplus that one resident said could be used to lower tax rates.

Rockland Township resident Carol A. Emrick said the key to lowering school taxes is to force teachers to contribute to the cost of their benefits.

“It’s time that we stopped paying 100 percent of their benefits, just like all of us had to do with our jobs,” said Emrick, who said her family contributes to the cost of theirs. “Teachers have got to face reality, too. ... We are willing to tolerate a strike. I think everyone is.”

Kenneth L. Heffner, another Rockland resident, said adult lunch prices should rise to meet costs in order to offset money lost on the cafeteria program.

“I don’t think the taxpayers should have to subsidize teachers’ and working adults’ (meals) in the schools,” he said.

After several angry comments that the board doesn’t care about taxpayers’ concerns, board member Janice McDermott struck back.

“It’s time that some of you started acting decently,” she said. “I want to work it out, but I don’t want to be slapped around by questions like yours.”

“You want to slap us around with your tax rate,” an angry resident shouted.

McDermott said she loves to see residents out in droves at school board meetings, but said it is necessary to tell them when they are off track and demand their respect.

She told the audience that the dire financial situation that brought about steep millage increases this year was created by past boards and said her tax rate went up along with theirs.

Contact reporter Phoebe Sweet at 610-371-5014 or psweet@readingeagle.com.