brs4688 said:
BTHOB-98 said:
JJMt said:
BTHOB-98 said:
School taxes make up about 70% (approximately) of property taxes. If kids are staying at home or we have to shut down again and parents are having to take care of their kids education I could see this getting ugly. If we do not have kids return to school or if they can't stay in the class I could see class action lawsuit by property owners to have taxes reduced? Thoughts?
What would the legal theory be behind such suits? I understand your point, but it has to fit within some recognized cause of action.
No idea. I am not a lawyer. Someone smarter than me will figure it out though. We're talking about huge amounts of money.
Taxes are paid so that service can be provided. If the service is not provided then there should be some kind of legal solution to get taxes reduced. People should have the right to educate their kids with that money. The reality is online home school is not even close to classroom education. Not the same universe.
Some of that money has been spent. Everyone paid in December and January for their property taxes. Money paid teachers and utilities and other expenses for the spring. School as not even started for the fall yet. There is money left. At the very least there could be a problem for 2021 taxes
It would also be prudent to ask about transportation costs and salary since those services are not being provided. There are also medical and security staff that are not doing anything at this time compared to when students and staff are present.
Not certain whether it is true or not, but I know a couple of school nurses in Houston who claim that they are expected to take temps every day for the kids returning to school. Of course, priority is being given to returning kids to school who are economically disadvantaged or have some other limitation, so there are going to be some dual career parents who are pretty angry.
I have no kids, so school taxes are really just a cost of doing business that I receive no direct benefit from. With that perspective, I really don't care whether they give some rebate to recognize the increased work parents have to put in because I'm used to just paying to educate other people's children. Definitely recognize that some attorneys will try to realize a payday from this, and plenty of parents will be willing to oblige.