Bentonville millage request raises some questions

I’m beginning to think we have a lot of people who no longer believe in democracy. We have Bass Trumbo writing a long letter on education, only to sum it up by taking a cheap shot at our president and telling us that those of us who voted for Trump (The Deplorables) voted so because we were uneducated and basically ignorant. Apparently, Mr. Trumbo would only let those vote who sit on the same pedestal he has elevated himself to. He can vote how he likes. I respect his right to vote as he chooses. It’s a pity he doesn’t extend that privilege to others.

Now we have a Bentonville school board member telling us that if we vote against the millage increase, we are against the children. I’m having a hard time finding a word for what I think of that statement. “Arrogant” keeps coming up. Does he think he will garner support for a mileage increase by shaming people into voting for it? I don’t think so.

The truth is that our county assessor is aggressive in reassessing everyone’s property. The property I live on was assessed for a 150 percent increase in value over a five-year period with no improvements. Not to mention all the new houses and commercial construction. There should be a dramatic increase in tax collections.

Finally, can [school board member Joe] Quinn tell us how many mills of our current millage was voted in for bond money to build new school buildings? And how much revenue did that millage generate last year? How much money was spent on pond payments last year?

Disrespecting other people’s voting decisions is a dangerous path to go down. We expect some honesty and the facts from our elected officials, that’s all. Voters have the sole privilege of making our voting decisions. It’s the law, if that even matters anymore. G.W. WEEKS Centerton