Editor, Times-Union: The history of voter apathy nationwide, and in particular in Kosciusko County, is abysmal to put it mildly. Centrist and conservatives within the Democratic and Libertarian parties are hard to find and reluctant to run because it proves to be a waste of time and money knowing they can’t win. The Warsaw Community School Board probably chose this coming off-election year purposefully to take advantage of this election cycle to present their referendum to the voters since only city positions are up for election. County voters within the school district only have one issue to vote on – the referendum, thus more voters than usual will be absent from the polls. This absence will favor the passing of the referendum with lower voter turnout allowing the WCS Board to comply with the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law’s intent. The school board has employed a very effective public relations campaign with motivated organizers and workers. The recent crop of orange signs and letters to the editor is evidence of their motivation. The proof of their success will come on Election Day unless more taxpayers opposed to this referendum do their duty and start speaking out. Erroneous information has been disseminated about some aspects of this proposal without being refuted. Substantial cost of this proposal involve school board “wants” rather than “needs,” and they are attempting to mine gold from the taxpayers’ pocket to pay for it. This is just the first volley. History has proved that shortly after construction is completed, another proposal will be presented for another huge and extravagant plan. Some past projects have proved to be unwise, such as the closing and later reopening at greater cost of Claypool Elementary and the open concept construction of Edgewood Middle School. I contend some aspects of this plan are unwise. The school board has a champagne diet and the community can only afford Coke. The tax implications of this referendum will be much greater than presented to many people, especially farmers, lake property owners, business owners and homeowners with property valued over $250,000. Frugality and wisdom are not mutually exclusive. In the coming days I intend to submit more letters addressing the recent ones in the Times-Union presented by various supporters. I hope others will do the same. We can’t go down without a fight. People have told me it is time for me to write another letter. I say, your turn! Why should I be the only one speaking out when I have heard many people speaking to me in opposition to this plan? Vote no on this referendum, forcing the school board to return to the drawing board. Next year is a general election year where more people will go to the polls to vote. By then, I would love to have three options (Plan A, Plan B and Plan C) that give voters a voice and say in what direction they and their wallets wish to go. Jim Merritt Warsaw, via email
