To the editor:

Thank you to the Call Newspapers and editor Erin Achenbach for reporting the facts about our property tax increase that got swept under the rug by the Mehlville School Board and administration. (Editor’s note: See “Mehlville BOE approves 2023 tax rate, includes 31-cent Prop E levy in the Sept. 28 print edition of The Call.)

Voters, myself included, approved Proposition E – a 31 cent tax rate increase – back in April to support the teachers. Unfortunately, by approving a tax increase, voters unwittingly permitted the school board to exploit a quirky technicality to ignore the Hancock Amendment and avoid the intent of the voters. Now taxes are increasing more than double the voted upon amount. Many Oakville residents will see unexpected $1000 plus increases in their taxes.

By carefully spinning the facts and minimizing any mention of the loophole, the increase in the residential tax rate was swept under the rug. Focus was put on the increase in property values to deflect attention from their unilateral decision to tax the increase.

The board held a staged tax rate hearing that focused only on the blended tax rate, which is not even levied.

The twisting of facts and the lack of transparency were as unacceptable as not honoring the intent of the voter. Maybe legal, but not ethical in my opinion.

There are four board seats up for election this coming year. Time for a change.

Tim Archibald

Oakville