City dwelling vs Country living

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Market of Choice!

Ironically, their selections are limited and expensive!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I will say the sense of community is much better out here. And the kids get free breakfast and lunch at school everyday. And my utilities are about 50% of what they were in town, property taxes far less, and groceries are slightly less expensive. Not much traffic. Being our own self-sustaining community, those in charge have apparently figured out how to balance the financials.

 

[barfo]

I will say the sense of community is much better out here. And the kids get free breakfast and lunch at school everyday. And my utilities are about 50% of what they were in town, property taxes far less, and groceries are slightly less expensive. Not much traffic. Being our own self-sustaining community, those in charge have apparently figured out how to balance the financials.

By being subsidized by Portland taxpayers, like the rest of the state.

barfo

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

By being subsidized by Portland taxpayers, like the rest of the state.

barfo

Incorrect.

Y'all can't even pay for lead-free water.

Learn some knowledge, then post.

 

[barfo]

Incorrect.

Y'all can't even pay for lead-free water.

Learn some knowledge, then post.

No, it's actually correct. The cities do subsidize rural areas in many ways. Not that I object to such subsidies. I just think that those who are net 'takers' (not meaning you personally at all, but rural areas/states generally) shouldn't be whining about the government quite as much as they do.

barfo

 

[barfo]

It is often correct. In this situation, I do not believe it is.

Ok, I will certainly accept that, since you know your specific situation and I don't.

barfo

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Ok, I will certainly accept that, since you know your specific situation and I don't.

barfo

Cheapest (overall) utilities in the entire PNW. That's not why we moved here, that was dumb luck. But not being hitched to PGE and some of the other corporate overlords of the Portland Metro is nice.

 

[oldfisherman]

Barfo

By being subsidized by Portland taxpayers, like the rest of the state.

While I would agree with you there are special grants available to help small communities, most of the ones I am aware of are Federal grants, not state.

I am also aware of grants from private foundations to assist small communities. Paul Allen’s foundation helped pay to build the library in my small village, along with several large donations from local families.

Also, many long time local residents and businesses donate money and land for projects such as building parks, new lakes, and recreational areas. The city folks also get to use and enjoy these recreational areas on their vacations here, and welcome to do so. An old saw mill pond was recently renovated into a nice camping, fishing and picnicking lake. Almost all of it was paid for with local family and business donations. State Fish and Game did provide some financial help, but a very small %, mostly by stocking the new public lake with fish.

Most, if not all, local improvements made in small communities would never happen without a large part of the cost being donated by the locals. This is one of the reasons property taxes are less. The small communities recieve donations from the richer residents and businesses to pay for many of the improvements, rather than issuing bonds that raises everyone’s taxes.

In small communities, people that can help others do so. Everyone knows who needs help, who can help them, and the best way to help them.

As Blazinggiant said, there is more a sense of community in rural areas.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

When I was a child growing up in Wilsonville, people would walk by and say hello. Now, they generally avoid eye contact and keep on shuffling. Not since I moved to a "small town" had I again experienced so many people willing to look you in the eye and say hello as they stroll along. It's the little, simple things....

We're all on this planet together. Can we not acknowledge one another and strangers in day-to-day life?

 

[MarAzul]

By being subsidized by Portland taxpayers, like the rest of the state.

barfo

Actually I believe it is the other way around.

People in Coos County have been trying to find a way not to lose over half of the school taxes paid in this county.

Here is the net result of one study and another scheme had the same result.


* * * * * * * * * * * ** *

"56% of tax for schools is still ‘lost’ to Salem"

** * * * * * * * * * * * *

Top salaries
These were the top-paid employees of 11 local school districts during 2010. See highest-paid principals :: See highest-paid teachers

» Stories: Oregon school salaries: How did an operations director earn more than superintendents? :: Portland Public Schools out of step in share of employees earning $75,000 to $95,000


Name Title District Salary
Jerry Colonna1 superintendent Beaverton $248,420
Tim Woodley operations director West Linn-Wilsonville $193,186
Carole Smith superintendent Portland $192,160
Mike Scott superintendent Hillsboro $190,262
Tim Mills superintendent North Clackamas $188,354
Roger Woehl superintendent West Linn-Wilsonville $170,497
Rob Saxton superintendent Tigard-Tualatin $161,684
Bill Korach superintendent Lake Oswego $148,888
Roger Rada 1 superintendent Oregon City $145,890
Janice Adams1 Beaverton High principal Beaverton $144,283
Jim Schlachter superintendent Gresham-Barlow $143,198
Greg Zinn2,3 elementary principal Hillsboro $141,993
Yvonne Curtis superintendent Forest Grove $140,720
Carol Loughner1 Glencoe High principal Hillsboro $138,453
Darin Davidson1 business and support services director Forest Grove $137,259
Claire Hertz chief financial officer Beaverton $137,006
Adam Stewart chief financial officer Hillsboro $136,765
Kevin Fordney1 elementary principal David Douglas $135,609
Steven Langford chief information officer Beaverton $135,294
Carl Mead2 deputy superintendent Beaverton $135,075
Sue Robertson chief human resources officer Beaverton $135,034
Ted Zehr Century High principal Hillsboro $134,689
Jim Harrington chief technology officer Hillsboro $134,564
Janice Essenberg1 chief financial officer David Douglas $134,139
Dave Willard4 assistant superintendent Forest Grove $134,122
Kathleen Kaczke 1 special education director Beaverton $133,054
Thayne Balzer assistant superintendent West Linn-Wilsonville $132,587
Donald Martin1 elementary principal Beaverton $132,527
Natalie Osburn assistant superintendent David Douglas $132,295
Toni Hunter deputy superintendent Portland $132,160
Mark Davalos1 deputy superintendent Portland $132,160
Harriet Adair regional administrator Portland $132,160
Jerry Jones assistant superintendent and CFO Gresham-Barlow $131,781
Holly Lekas executive administrator for middle schools Beaverton $131,654
Brenda Lewis executive administrator for elementary schools Beaverton $131,105
Ron Porterfield 2 deputy superintendent Beaverton $131,036

Bandon $94,000

56% Damn! We need a revolution!!!

 

[MarAzul]

When I was a child growing up in Wilsonville, people would walk by and say hello. Now, they generally avoid eye contact and keep on shuffling. Not since I moved to a "small town" had I again experienced so many people willing to look you in the eye and say hello as they stroll along. It's the little, simple things....

We're all on this planet together. Can we not acknowledge one another and strangers in day-to-day life?

Heck man, it's the only way I can get anything done! Put head down and hurry on down there! Seriously, when I am down at the boat which is front and center right down town, I spend a good part of the day talking to people, locals and visitors from all over. One ole boy from the Netherlands came double time down to the boat, shouting, "Where you get Das Boot?"

 

[barfo]

Actually I believe it is the other way around.

That's kind of silly. Of course administrators for bigger districts, and where the cost of living is higher, get paid more.

Fact is, your school district spends more per pupil than mine does.

Another fact is, your local school used to be funded by your local property tax. Then you voted in Measure 5, because you felt you were paying too much property tax.

barfo

 

[oldfisherman]

Heck man, it's the only way I can get anything done! Put head down and hurry on down there! Seriously, when I am down at the boat which is front and center right down town, I spend a good part of the day talking to people, locals and visitors from all over. One ole boy from the Netherlands came double time down to the boat, shouting, "Where you get Das Boot?"

Funny you should mention this story. I had something similar happen to me in Coos Bay about 20 years ago.

I had my boat there for a few days of ocean fishing. I had many discussions with the friendly locals about fishing, and my boat, a Shamrock which is rather rare on the west coast.

When they found out I wanted to learn how to fish for Tuna, several commercial fisherman, old timers, where called. They came by to give me countless suggestions on the best way to set my boat up.

To make a long story short, I spent two whole extra days just talking with the friendly commercial fishermen. I learned a lot from them. Commercial fishermen teaching their tricks to a sport fisherman does not happen in the larger ports.

 

[barfo]

Barfo

While I would agree with you there are special grants available to help small communities, most of the ones I am aware of are Federal grants, not state.

Yeah, I was actually thinking of federal subsidies (e.g. electricity, highways, ...)

As Blazinggiant said, there is more a sense of community in rural areas.

Can't disagree with that.

barfo

 

[MarAzul]

That's kind of silly. Of course administrators for bigger districts, and where the cost of living is higher, get paid more.

Fact is, your school district spends more per pupil than mine does.

Another fact is, your local school used to be funded by your local property tax. Then you voted in Measure 5, because you felt you were paying too much property tax.

barfo

Silly my ass! We are paying taxes to fund your schools because you think they should be paid more because they are bigger???
Damn man! you sure change your tune.

Yeah you bet I fell like I am paying too much tax when more of it goes to your city schools than the schools here. Who the fuck thought up this plan??
I want a hunk off his/her butt.

Now go back and look where you post, city tax payer are subsidizing.. It is bull shit, barfo bull shit.

"Fact is, your school district spends more per pupil than mine does."
This is a fact, and I am pleased it is too. In spite of sending out to Salem, far more school tax revenue than we spend.

"Another fact is, your local school used to be funded by your local property tax."
It still is and then some here in Bandon.

 

[oldfisherman]

Barfo,
The short rebuttal to your false state funding statement is “politics”.

The majority of people live in the city. They control how and where state level funds are distributed. Most of the representatives from the city are Democrats. Most of the state representatives from rural areas are Republican.

The Democrats take care of their own, while most of the rural areas only get chicken scraps.

The money flows from the rural areas into the cities. Pure politics based on who controls the purse strings.

 

[MarAzul]

The money flows from the rural areas into the cities

Seems about time this crap stops.

 

[oldfisherman]

Seems about time this crap stops.

Just wait until the Progressives (AKA Socialists one small step from being Communists) take over Portland. Everyone in the state will be living in poverty.

 

[barfo]

Barfo,
The short rebuttal to your false state funding statement is “politics”.

The majority of people live in the city. They control how and where state level funds are distributed. Most of the representatives from the city are Democrats. Most of the state representatives from rural areas are Republican.

The Democrats take care of their own, while most of the rural areas only get chicken scraps.

The money flows from the rural areas into the cities. Pure politics based on who controls the purse strings.

That's not a fact-based rebuttal.

barfo

 

[riverman]

When I was a child growing up in Wilsonville, people would walk by and say hello. Now, they generally avoid eye contact and keep on shuffling. Not since I moved to a "small town" had I again experienced so many people willing to look you in the eye and say hello as they stroll along. It's the little, simple things....

We're all on this planet together. Can we not acknowledge one another and strangers in day-to-day life?

When that happens, make sure you've zipped your fly

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

When that happens, make sure you've zipped your fly

You know I hang out with my wang out.

 

[barfo]

Silly my ass! We are paying taxes to fund your schools because you think they should be paid more because they are bigger???

No, that is not what I said. What I said was that it is natural for the top administrator of a large district to be paid more than one for a small district. Just as it is normal that the CEO of IBM gets paid more than the CEO of Ye Olde Bandon Antique Store.

But at the same time, that administrator's salary is spread over way more students, so the larger district is more efficient than yours (financially - not necessarily educationally).

Damn man! you sure change your tune.

Not clear what you mean by that.

Yeah you bet I fell like I am paying too much tax when more of it goes to your city schools than the schools here. Who the fuck thought up this plan??
I want a hunk off his/her butt.

Like I said, voters for Measure 5 thought this up. Bet you were one of them. I was not.

Now go back and look where you post, city tax payer are subsidizing.. It is bull shit, barfo bull shit.

"Fact is, your school district spends more per pupil than mine does."
This is a fact, and I am pleased it is too. In spite of sending out to Salem, far more school tax revenue than we spend.

"Another fact is, your local school used to be funded by your local property tax."
It still is and then some here in Bandon.

Kind of an impressive denial of facts. Not that I'd expect anything less from a Trump voter.

Let's start with, none of your property taxes go to Salem. None. That's just not the way property taxes work.

Secondly, you pay way less in property tax than most of the rest of the state, and you depend upon handouts from both the state and federal governments to balance your budget. The idea that you are 'sending money to Salem' and not taking even more money back is utter nonsense. The only way you could be more of a tax deadbeat is to move south to Curry County.

You don't pay for your schools entirely out of property tax (much less send extra to anyone else!). You rely on the state to fund schools from income taxes. Paid by those of us who have incomes. That system (which goes back to Measure 5) is why Oregon has such shitty schools.

Face it, you are a taker. On a grand scale.

barfo

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

^lotta untrue "facts" in there.

Or at least very over-generalized.

 

[barfo]

^lotta untrue "facts" in there.

Point them out specifically.

barfo

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Curry County is one county that is probably more subsidized than most, but there are plenty of smaller counties that are subsidized far less than others in the Portland Metro.

Curry and Douglas are two of the most heavily supported.

 

[barfo]

Curry County is one county that is probably more subsidized than most, but there are plenty of smaller counties that are subsidized far less than others in the Portland Metro.

Curry and Douglas are two of the most heavily supported.

Coos is another one.

barfo

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Yamhill was one of the most fiscally responsible counties in the state. I consider it rural.

Polk, Curry, Douglas, Josephine and 2-3 others in the SW part of OR are more subsidized.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Multnomah is subsidized and still struggles to make ends meet.

But yeah... Keep drinking the lead in the water.

 

[barfo]

Yamhill was one of the most fiscally responsible counties in the state. I consider it rural.

Polk, Curry, Douglas, Josephine and 2-3 others in the SW part of OR are more subsidized.

Yes, I was speaking specifically of MarAzul's county, Coos. County Motto: "Land O' The Takers".

barfo

 

[barfo]

Multnomah is subsidized and still struggles to make ends meet.

But yeah... Keep drinking the lead in the water.

Multnomah is not subsidized, but yes, it has all kinds of financial problems due to various things, including bad decision-making.

barfo