Martinborough School has a problem: a pan (toilet) tax that soaks its finances of $33,000 a year – imposed by South Wairarapa District Council for kids using the school’s 22 toilets connected to the town sewer system.
Is that a fair level of tax for a school with 250 students?
The school doesn’t think so. And has presented to the council on the matter.
So, do the math.
Some $33,000 in pan tax;
Some 250 students (plus teaching, admin, care-taking staff);
Some 195 days of school a year.
$33,000 divided by 195 = $169.00 a day;
Or, $33,000 divided by 250 kids = $132 a student/year.
Take the second option: $132.00 per student divided by 195 school days = $0.68 cents per child/per day;
Result, (at 3 toilet pan uses per child per six hour school day): $0.23 cents per use.
Whatever happened to spending “a penny?”
But does it add up to the school being seriously over-charged through pan tax?
And, who pays for toilet rolls, cleaners, cleaning chemicals, cleaning equipment, maintenance?
Is there a case for having Council review its pan tax charge on the school community?
