I will say the sense of community is much better out here. And the kids get free breakfast and lunch at school everyday. And my utilities are about 50% of what they were in town, property taxes far less, and groceries are slightly less expensive. Not much traffic. Being our own self-sustaining community, those in charge have apparently figured out how to balance the financials.
No, it's actually correct. The cities do subsidize rural areas in many ways. Not that I object to such subsidies. I just think that those who are net 'takers' (not meaning you personally at all, but rural areas/states generally) shouldn't be whining about the government quite as much as they do. barfo
Cheapest (overall) utilities in the entire PNW. That's not why we moved here, that was dumb luck. But not being hitched to PGE and some of the other corporate overlords of the Portland Metro is nice.
Barfo While I would agree with you there are special grants available to help small communities, most of the ones I am aware of are Federal grants, not state. I am also aware of grants from private foundations to assist small communities. Paul Allen’s foundation helped pay to build the library in my small village, along with several large donations from local families. Also, many long time local residents and businesses donate money and land for projects such as building parks, new lakes, and recreational areas. The city folks also get to use and enjoy these recreational areas on their vacations here, and welcome to do so. An old saw mill pond was recently renovated into a nice camping, fishing and picnicking lake. Almost all of it was paid for with local family and business donations. State Fish and Game did provide some financial help, but a very small %, mostly by stocking the new public lake with fish. Most, if not all, local improvements made in small communities would never happen without a large part of the cost being donated by the locals. This is one of the reasons property taxes are less. The small communities recieve donations from the richer residents and businesses to pay for many of the improvements, rather than issuing bonds that raises everyone’s taxes. In small communities, people that can help others do so. Everyone knows who needs help, who can help them, and the best way to help them. As Blazinggiant said, there is more a sense of community in rural areas.
When I was a child growing up in Wilsonville, people would walk by and say hello. Now, they generally avoid eye contact and keep on shuffling. Not since I moved to a "small town" had I again experienced so many people willing to look you in the eye and say hello as they stroll along. It's the little, simple things.... We're all on this planet together. Can we not acknowledge one another and strangers in day-to-day life?
Actually I believe it is the other way around. People in Coos County have been trying to find a way not to lose over half of the school taxes paid in this county. Here is the net result of one study and another scheme had the same result. * * * * * * * * * * * ** * "56% of tax for schools is still ‘lost’ to Salem" ** * * * * * * * * * * * * Top salaries These were the top-paid employees of 11 local school districts during 2010. See highest-paid principals :: See highest-paid teachers » Stories: Oregon school salaries: How did an operations director earn more than superintendents? :: Portland Public Schools out of step in share of employees earning $75,000 to $95,000 Name Title District Salary Jerry Colonna1 superintendent Beaverton $248,420 Tim Woodley operations director West Linn-Wilsonville $193,186 Carole Smith superintendent Portland $192,160 Mike Scott superintendent Hillsboro $190,262 Tim Mills superintendent North Clackamas $188,354 Roger Woehl superintendent West Linn-Wilsonville $170,497 Rob Saxton superintendent Tigard-Tualatin $161,684 Bill Korach superintendent Lake Oswego $148,888 Roger Rada 1 superintendent Oregon City $145,890 Janice Adams1 Beaverton High principal Beaverton $144,283 Jim Schlachter superintendent Gresham-Barlow $143,198 Greg Zinn2,3 elementary principal Hillsboro $141,993 Yvonne Curtis superintendent Forest Grove $140,720 Carol Loughner1 Glencoe High principal Hillsboro $138,453 Darin Davidson1 business and support services director Forest Grove $137,259 Claire Hertz chief financial officer Beaverton $137,006 Adam Stewart chief financial officer Hillsboro $136,765 Kevin Fordney1 elementary principal David Douglas $135,609 Steven Langford chief information officer Beaverton $135,294 Carl Mead2 deputy superintendent Beaverton $135,075 Sue Robertson chief human resources officer Beaverton $135,034 Ted Zehr Century High principal Hillsboro $134,689 Jim Harrington chief technology officer Hillsboro $134,564 Janice Essenberg1 chief financial officer David Douglas $134,139 Dave Willard4 assistant superintendent Forest Grove $134,122 Kathleen Kaczke 1 special education director Beaverton $133,054 Thayne Balzer assistant superintendent West Linn-Wilsonville $132,587 Donald Martin1 elementary principal Beaverton $132,527 Natalie Osburn assistant superintendent David Douglas $132,295 Toni Hunter deputy superintendent Portland $132,160 Mark Davalos1 deputy superintendent Portland $132,160 Harriet Adair regional administrator Portland $132,160 Jerry Jones assistant superintendent and CFO Gresham-Barlow $131,781 Holly Lekas executive administrator for middle schools Beaverton $131,654 Brenda Lewis executive administrator for elementary schools Beaverton $131,105 Ron Porterfield 2 deputy superintendent Beaverton $131,036 Bandon $94,000 56% Damn! We need a revolution!!!
Heck man, it's the only way I can get anything done! Put head down and hurry on down there! Seriously, when I am down at the boat which is front and center right down town, I spend a good part of the day talking to people, locals and visitors from all over. One ole boy from the Netherlands came double time down to the boat, shouting, "Where you get Das Boot?"
That's kind of silly. Of course administrators for bigger districts, and where the cost of living is higher, get paid more. Fact is, your school district spends more per pupil than mine does. Another fact is, your local school used to be funded by your local property tax. Then you voted in Measure 5, because you felt you were paying too much property tax. barfo
Funny you should mention this story. I had something similar happen to me in Coos Bay about 20 years ago. I had my boat there for a few days of ocean fishing. I had many discussions with the friendly locals about fishing, and my boat, a Shamrock which is rather rare on the west coast. When they found out I wanted to learn how to fish for Tuna, several commercial fisherman, old timers, where called. They came by to give me countless suggestions on the best way to set my boat up. To make a long story short, I spent two whole extra days just talking with the friendly commercial fishermen. I learned a lot from them. Commercial fishermen teaching their tricks to a sport fisherman does not happen in the larger ports.
Yeah, I was actually thinking of federal subsidies (e.g. electricity, highways, ...) Can't disagree with that. barfo
Silly my ass! We are paying taxes to fund your schools because you think they should be paid more because they are bigger??? Damn man! you sure change your tune. Yeah you bet I fell like I am paying too much tax when more of it goes to your city schools than the schools here. Who the fuck thought up this plan?? I want a hunk off his/her butt. Now go back and look where you post, city tax payer are subsidizing.. It is bull shit, barfo bull shit. "Fact is, your school district spends more per pupil than mine does." This is a fact, and I am pleased it is too. In spite of sending out to Salem, far more school tax revenue than we spend. "Another fact is, your local school used to be funded by your local property tax." It still is and then some here in Bandon.
Barfo, The short rebuttal to your false state funding statement is “politics”. The majority of people live in the city. They control how and where state level funds are distributed. Most of the representatives from the city are Democrats. Most of the state representatives from rural areas are Republican. The Democrats take care of their own, while most of the rural areas only get chicken scraps. The money flows from the rural areas into the cities. Pure politics based on who controls the purse strings.
Just wait until the Progressives (AKA Socialists one small step from being Communists) take over Portland. Everyone in the state will be living in poverty.
