Regarding the April 30 article, “Union Springs school budget will include tax increase.” The “minor increase” in school taxes, if approved by voters in the Union Springs Central School District on May 20, is still too much. With a decline in students district-wide and staff reductions any increase is unacceptable. The report states the added money in the budget “will fund employee benefits.” Here are some ideas:

• Employees pay a bigger share of their own benefits.

• Work with last year's budget.

• Realize that not all taxpayers receive a raise in income each year to finance tax increases.

• The school tax is not the only tax.

• With the increased cost of fuel, cut out half-days for students. It seems like a waste of fuel to bus students to school just to bus them back home a couple of hours later. Combine these half-days into a full day.

• Based on three through five above, finances are tight all around. If there is not enough money in the budget, do without. It is what people trying to make ends meet do regularly.

Marilyn F. Bower

Springport