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To the Editor: I am a retired businessman from Boston. I paid high taxes up there to ensure my kids had a quality education. Since moving to Sarasota County, I have seen my property taxes are quite a bit lower than up north, but I've been asked several times to increase those taxes to pay for a better education in Sarasota County than the state funds allow. The school district's referendum is around the corner and I am being asked once again to renew it. Even though I have no children or grandchildren in the local schools, I gladly support the referendum for several reasons (the writer's emphasis). First of all, I want to ensure that the paramedic, law enforcement officer and nurse who are there to help me if I need them, and the electrician, plumber and accountant I use have had more than a basic education the state provides. I want them to be good thinkers and problem solvers — my life, my home, my finances may depend upon it. Second, when I sell my home, I want the prop- erty values to increase, not decrease because the community didn't support better schools. Third, the children in school today are our future leaders and I want to ensure they know how to be good stewards of our finances and the environment so my descendants enjoy this country for years to come. I often wonder: "How can someone look at the youth of today and deny their chance for success that excellent schools provide?" Richard Diutsh Longboat Key LETTERS TO THE EDITOR READER OFFERS SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL TAX REFERENDUM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Sarasota News Leader wel- comes letters to the editor from its readers. Letters should be no more than 300 words in length, and include the name, street address and telephone num- ber of the writer. Letters should be emailed to Letters@SarasotaNewsLeader.com, with "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line. Let- ters actually printed will be selected based on space available, subject matter and other fac- tors. We reserve the right to edit any letters submitted for length, grammar, spelling, etc. All letters submitted become the property of The Sarasota News Leader. OPINION Sarasota News Leader February 28, 2014 Page 88