A deadline is a deadline

For the last month, the supporters and opponents of the proposed Warren Local Schools tax levy have been flooding the newspaper with letters to the editor.

The letters of support and opposition followed many of the same lines of reasoning.

The supporters wrote about the need for the levy to finance new buildings and how the state would be putting up more than half the cost of new buildings from the tobacco settlement.

Opponents took exception to the need for the new buildings, arguing repair of existing buildings wouldn't cost as much; the tax was too high and was for too long a period of time, leaving their children and possibly grandchildren paying on it; and the administration had not properly cared for the existing buildings so why spend more money.

The levy has been on the ballot before and has failed each time, which opponents also question why it keeps being put back on the ballot, further wasting taxpayer money for the election. Although, each time the levy is put on the ballot it gets closer to being passed.

There is little doubt, the letters in support of the levy are an orchestrated attempt to gain its approval. Some almost makes one wonder if they weren't written by the same person or persons, although each letter we receive is verified as to the writer.

The deadline for receiving letters to the editor pertaining to the May 3 election was last Friday, April 22, which was repeatedly published on The News and Sentinel opinion page. Those letters within the published length permitted in letters to the editor and received before the Friday deadline will be published. But those received after last Friday or in excess of the permitted number of words will not be published.

Unfortunately, I have notified several letter writers today their letters will not be published, which has nothing to do with the content of the letters, merely the letters being received after the deadline or their length, which I'm sure will not be well received by the letter writers.

But, in the newspaper business a deadline is a deadline is a deadline!