by LexNaturalis

This author read in the local newspaper yesterday that a local school board had turned in their budget for the next year. This was not particularly troublesome, as school boards need money to run schools. This article is not going to discuss the legitimacy or efficacy of public schools. For the time being, public schools are the vehicle for granting the power of knowledge to our children. However, as this author read further in the article he noticed that the budget was bigger than the year before. That fact, in and of itself, was also not too troubling. The percentage was less than 5%, which is less than the standard COLA raise that many people get every year. The problem was how the school board dealt with the increase in the budget.

It raised property taxes.

This author is not writing falsehoods. You are not reading incorrectly. The local school board raised property taxes without a vote, without any sort of “permission” from the electorate. It was not until this author read the article that he was even aware that a school board had the power to raise property taxes. The increase in property taxes was 18.12 mills or $226.55 for property assessed at $50,000. This author is outraged that a school board (not a borough council or state legislature) can raise property taxes. This is an example of a situation that flies in the face of all decent standards of legitimate government.

There is no legitimate reason for a school board to be able to raise the property taxes of the citizens of that area. A school board is not a government entity and should concern itself only with the running of the school system. Schools are already troubled enough without giving school boards the ability to arbitrarily take money from citizens. One of the first principles of Natural Law is the ability, nay the right, to own property. A legitimate arm of the government, under the power and obligation of Natural Law, may raise funds by taxing property. A school board is not a legitimate arm of the government and has no authority to raise taxes. This author hopes that the egregious violation of Natural Law has occurred only in his area of residence and is not a pandemic.

We welcome your opinions and comments at the anarcho-capitalism forum. Please join the conversations today!

—
LexNaturalis is a freelance writer and thinker from central Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife. He promotes personal responsibility to augment personal freedom.

Photo Sources: 1 2