Letters: SCASD tax increases hurt local families; Selective outrage

SCASD tax increases hurt local families

The State College Area School District (SCASD) has proposed a 3.5% tax increase for the 2026-2027 school year. This increase is the maximum allowed under the state’s Act 1 index and is the fifth year of tax hikes. SCASD comprises 13 schools and 6,800 students. Student enrollment has not increased significantly in the same time period. The total student enrollment as prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the previous years are as follows:

2020-2021 total 6721

2021-2022 total 6776

2022-2023 total 6781

2023-2024 total 6712

2024-2025 total 6800

Many families in our community are negatively impacted by these recurring increases in the school taxes. I believe it’s important for the board to consider the impact these decisions have on households and to explore more sustainable alternatives. For example, the State College Area School District is anticipated to receive around $540,000 to $560,000 annually through taxes after the casino’s first year.

The public budget hearing is set for May 18, with a final budget vote expected on June 1. Please attend the hearing to express your concerns.

Sharon Gaddes, Boalsburg

Selective outrage

If a Democratic president had done even a fraction of what Donald Trump has done, Republicans would be screaming for impeachment hearings.

Imagine the reaction from Republicans if Barack Obama or Joe Biden had run for office with 34 felony convictions and a trail of bankruptcies. Or if either tried to overturn a presidential election and incited a mob to storm the U.S. Capitol.

What if a Democratic president talked about suspending constitutional rights, deployed federal forces into states over governors’ objections, or bypassed Congress’s constitutional authority over war powers or federal spending?

Republicans would call it tyranny.

What if a Democratic president worked to strip health coverage from millions, or replaced independent civil servants with partisan political operatives, or used the DOJ to go after political opponents?

There would be wall-to-wall outrage on conservative media and immediate calls for investigations.

Yet Donald Trump has done all of this and more. And Republican leaders in Congress remain smugly silent.

Closer to home, Rep. Glenn Thompson fills the “bad news” section of his newsletter with partisan talking points. But when it comes to the conduct of a Republican president Thompson’s outrage conveniently disappears. Apparently, Thompson can’t be bothered to learn about what is really happening in this country.

The problem isn’t just Donald Trump. It’s the willingness of Republicans to excuse and accept behavior they would condemn instantly if a Democrat did it.

The hypocrisy of the Republican Party is astounding. And a threat to us all.

Bob Potter, Boalsburg

Conservation easement programs are crucial

As a private forest landowner, forest consulting business owner, and faculty within the Wildlife Technology Program at Penn State DuBois, I recognize the importance of Pennsylvania’s 16 million acres of forestland. Our collective health, environmental health and economic health are linked to well-managed forests. These places are more than timber, they provide clean water and air, support rural economies, and serve as vital habitat to diverse wildlife species.

That’s why the forest-focused conservation programs in the Farm Bill currently being considered in Congress are so important. The Forest Conservation Easement Program helps keep working forests intact by preventing fragmentation and development, while the proposed Forest Landowner Support Program would provide critical technical and financial assistance to help landowners, including myself and my clients who actively manage forests for long-term health and resilience.

Conservation easement programs are already helping protect private forestland in the state. This includes large, contiguous tracts that maintain the legacy and character of Penn’s Woods while supporting wildlife and bird species that influence recreational opportunities. These programs are vital for slowing the loss of roughly 28,000 acres of the state’s forest to development each year.

I appreciate the leadership of Congressman Glenn Thompson in including these forest conservation provisions in the current Farm Bill proposal. But as the bill moves through Congress, it’s essential that the state’s entire Congressional delegation supports them, because these programs are crucial for supporting better habitat for birds and wildlife, protecting water resources, and ensuring forests continue contributing to local economies.

Mike Eckley, DuBois