If Land Moves, Tax Dollars Move but Some Investors Will Not
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: November 14, 2012
"We as land owners that are paying the taxes should have the right to say where they want their taxes paid," says Sara Taylor Kirtley.
The dispute over which district a portion of land will go to has upset several people.
"It's supposed to be about the children and it's not about the children. If it was about the children, then Jim Ned would have never became involved in this to this level," says Doodie Taylor-Knox.
Approximately 60,000 acres of land could possibly be taken from Novice ISD and given to the Jim Ned school district.
Taylor-Knox continues, "We have no choice. Through this process, it's simply a land grab by neighboring community and it's not fair."
Doodie Taylor-Knox and her sister, Sara Taylor Kirtley, are strongly invested in this dispute because they belong to a family who has owned Coleman County land for over 100 years.
"Part of our obligation is not only to take care of our family, but our family extends to the novice community and we truly feel like the best thing that can be done is consolidation with Coleman ISD," says Taylor-Knox.
If their land is given to Jim Ned, their tax dollars will be going to a district they want no part of.
"What it means to me is the ending of an era for our family. It means I won't be paying taxes to a Coleman County school district."
For decades these sisters have invested in the education of Coleman County students; helping get new programs in the community and even awarding thousands of dollars worth of scholarships to help send students to college.
Kirtley says, "This is where our loyalties are, this is where our ties are, this is where our blood came from."
But now, they may be forced to invest their dollars in an unfamiliar community.
Jim Ned will hold a special school board meeting to vote on the land detachment Thursday night at 6 pm.
The dispute over which district a portion of land will go to has upset several people.
"It's supposed to be about the children and it's not about the children. If it was about the children, then Jim Ned would have never became involved in this to this level," says Doodie Taylor-Knox.
Approximately 60,000 acres of land could possibly be taken from Novice ISD and given to the Jim Ned school district.
Taylor-Knox continues, "We have no choice. Through this process, it's simply a land grab by neighboring community and it's not fair."
Doodie Taylor-Knox and her sister, Sara Taylor Kirtley, are strongly invested in this dispute because they belong to a family who has owned Coleman County land for over 100 years.
"Part of our obligation is not only to take care of our family, but our family extends to the novice community and we truly feel like the best thing that can be done is consolidation with Coleman ISD," says Taylor-Knox.
If their land is given to Jim Ned, their tax dollars will be going to a district they want no part of.
"What it means to me is the ending of an era for our family. It means I won't be paying taxes to a Coleman County school district."
For decades these sisters have invested in the education of Coleman County students; helping get new programs in the community and even awarding thousands of dollars worth of scholarships to help send students to college.
Kirtley says, "This is where our loyalties are, this is where our ties are, this is where our blood came from."
But now, they may be forced to invest their dollars in an unfamiliar community.
Jim Ned will hold a special school board meeting to vote on the land detachment Thursday night at 6 pm.
