To the Editor:

The April 2 issue of Parkland Press ran a front page article summarizing an expected shortfall of $1.2 million for Parkland School District's 2015-16 budget.

According to the article, the district is "working to cut costs while seeking additional sources of revenue."

Their cost-work involves an expected $100,000 reduction in electricity costs and a $200,000 savings in tuition reimbursements to teachers.

That leaves the major heavy-of offsetting the remaining deficit to be shouldered by we, the (property) taxpayers.

Why isn't cost-more of a priority in the district?

According to the article, the increase in the cost of employee benefits alone is $4.3 million (9.9 percent). By my math, that would be over three times the amount of the deficit.

This is just another illustration of the need for property tax elimination and a responsible system for managing the cost of public education.

Right now, our only "protection" against this burdensome taxation

Pat Kottke

Upper Macungie