DEAR EDITOR:

When I taught my dog to sit, I said sit. It took two times. When I told my children with a stern voice “No,” it meant no. No that took one time. What word would the Niles Board of Education understand, that 69 percent of voters said no to raising our taxes to pay for something we didn’t want in the first place. Tell me so I will use that word.

This is the county where they say 20,000 people cannot afford food to feed their families, yet the board of education wants to rely on retired people on a fixed income to come up with money to support schools in Niles. Other schools are having the same problem. This sounds like a broken record, playing the same old tune, yet they will try several ways to take our money. We do not get any more money than what we were given at age 65, of which Medicare takes $135.50 right off the top every month. This is it, this is what we get for working 30 to 35, or even 40 years. This year I received $11 a month more in January — I suppose you want that. If you want us to choose between your salaries, your house payments, your utility payments, prescriptions or us, it will have to come down to us.

With the GM closing of the Lordstown complex and the workers at related industries who are losing their jobs also, the money flow stops. May I remind the board of education of the food give away this past Christmas and the food pantries at all the schools now? What good is the Homestead Act for us seniors if you take that money away. My taxes already went up $100 in 2018, and I see no end in sight. What will you take next? My house? We already paid into the system. It is time you charge the renters to pay into the school system, since they make up for half the residents in Niles. Someone has to pay, and it cannot be the expense of retired people on a fixed income.

A quote from Democrats, “Pay your fair share.” Or, as teachers who wanted these schools, pay for them yourselves or look at cuts before the next school year. We have cut our way of living and have to do without. It’s time for everyone else to do the same.

RUTH LILLEY

Niles