Washington Twp Raises Taxes On Sports

The budget cuts for education had to hit somewhere in every town, and in Washinton Twp in Mercer County, they hit the extracurriculars. Now, for the first time, students participating in sports or clubs will be charged a $100 fee. Superintendent John Szabo reasoned that the fee was the only way to avoid higher property taxes.

Sharon made a good point. Football costs a lot more than the chess club. Why should their participants pay the same fee? Although a fee on already popular sports programs isn't a miserable plan, taxing extracurricular programs probably is. There is very little incentive to try out a club on a whim if you're not admitted without an $100 fee. Of course, in the plans defense, this might keep kids trying to pad their college resumes from joining a ton of clubs that they barely participate in.

It's a tough issue.