I just paid my property tax; 76 percent went to fund the schools. What did I get in return? Absolutely nothing. I got nothing for being forced to educate children who I don’t know or have any interest in. There is no logical or moral reason why anyone without children in school should be forced to fund their operation any more than forcing others to fund their neighbors’ snow plowing, lawn mowing or household operating expenses.

Those who use the schools should fund them with a “user fee” calculated by dividing the total operating expenses by the total number of students and multiplying that figure by the number of students in a household. A school funding user fee would be similar to the fees paid to register a motor vehicle or boat, or obtain a hunting or fishing license.

It’s time to replace the universal property tax as the school funding mechanism with a user tax – a logical, simple and fair approach.

M. Roberts Hunt
Falmouth