Taxes are the membership fees we pay to maintain a civilized society

Just who is Albert Berriz, treasurer of “Citizens for a responsible Washtenaw -anti millage group?” What are his educational leadership qualifications?

It sounds to me that he's a “right-winger.” He reminds me of the Business Round Table members who have, over the years, done all they could to bash public schools, with a goal to eventually eliminate public education. An easy way to do this is with false accusations, fear, negativity and bullying schools into operating a viable program with insufficient money.

Taxes are the membership fees we pay to maintain a civilized society. Our public schools are the foundation of our democracy. Lack of money threatens to undermine our nation's strengths of creativity and innovation of our successful educational system.

Numerous reports on funding public schools have called for structural reforms, but none of the reports have called for less revenue for public schools. We need to find innovative ways to pay for what we value in our public schools. We need to restore confidence in our schools and to support our excellent teachers and local school boards. An educated citizenry is a requisite in a democracy. June A. Rusten Ann Arbor