Playing Robin Hood with Ad Valorem Taxes
It seems that the definitions of fairness and equality have once again been skewed and twisted so as to fit comfortably within the confines of what is expedient and profitable. I speak of course of those who have effectively played the role of a distorted Robin Hood in terms of Pascagoula School District's right to its ad valorem taxes as it relates to the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery. Realizing at the outset of this letter that most who read this are well contented within themselves and proud to now have access to these revenues, my conscience tells me that I must stand for what is right and just no matter the implications. As President Ronald Reagan so eloquently once said, "Someone must stand up to those who say, 'Here's the key, there's the Treasury, just take as many of those hard-earned tax dollars as you want.'"
After much discussion and wrangling over this issue, I for one am not content to simply let this issue die and thus accept a certain percentage being mandated as going to our Pascagoula School District. Was it just me or did your mom and dad tell you as mine did that what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong? There was no leeway. There was no allowance for right to be right 50% of the time or 29% of the time. Right is right and wrong is wrong - plain and simple. So why if the ad valorem taxes being discussed are rightfully within the Pascagoula School District is it now wrong after over 40 years? Whose rule of law and morality are we adjusting to in an effort to make this set of circumstances fit the outcome of this bill? If the ad valorem taxes are rightfully placed in the Pascagoula School District then our schools should receive 100% of the revenue, not 29% or 50%.
Some may say that this whole discussion is politically motivated and to that I would concur emphatically. It is. Why else would the original bill have been submitted and handled the way it was? Why else would every other elected official outside of those specifically representing the Pascagoula area be so in favor of this effort? They know as you and I do that the majority of who elects them will benefit, with no thought of what is right and wrong. They are solely looking out for their elected positions and thus effectively holding the Pascagoula School District hostage. And as an elected official myself, while I understand the zeal to represent your constituency and make the voters in your area proud, I cannot for the life of me bring myself to the place where I could justify robbing another entity's tax base to make up for the deficiencies in my own.
A large part of the argument being made is that the Pascagoula School District is a "rich" school district as opposed to the other school districts in the county being "poor." In addition, the argument is being made that the workers at Chevron do not only live in Pascagoula, but throughout our county. I trust just reading that you see the inherent fallacy of those words. When did being rich become wrong? When did robbing the rich become right? While I understand and sympathize with those school districts that may not have as much, I cannot support this distorted form of playing Robin Hood, of robbing the rich and giving to the poor. If this is the political game we are now to play, then let's play on equal footing. The next economic development project that locates within the county, whether it be in Ocean Springs, Moss Point or the rural area let's split those ad valorem tax dollars as well. Moss Point's development surrounding the airport is a prime starting place. Heck, why stop at the large industrial projects? Ocean Springs has a tremendous small business climate; let's split those ad valorem tax dollars too. And while we're at it, let's tap into the developments going up in Grand Bay and Mobile. After all, many of the workers that work at Chevron live in Alabama. You tell me where this vicious cycle stops? Opening Pandora's Box is not the answer. Our constitution and laws have been written and tried for just this very reason. Right is right and wrong is wrong.
I could bore you with a litany of issues regarding the constitutionality of this original bill. I could ramble for hours about the injustice and sheer audacity of the elected officials and entities supporting this thievery. I will refrain from doing either, except to say that I trust level heads will prevail concerning this issue and people will see that while your school district may be in poor condition, it is not the fault of the Pascagoula School District or the City of Pascagoula. And while your school district may need to renovate the 1959 décor in the restrooms or add new computers and more teachers, and granted those are all worthwhile efforts, it should not come at the robbery of the Pascagoula School District's ad valorem tax base. All of our county school districts should be supported by their own tax base. If they cannot support themselves, perhaps they should consider consolidation. Otherwise, Pandora's Box can be opened and everyone loses. What a poorly thought precedent this was indeed.
Frank Corder
Pascagoula City Councilman Ward 4
