Readers of the Easley Progress seem a bit divided on what the solution is to the funding crisis that the School District of Pickens County is facing.

But our readers are united on one point: The answers is not using more property tax money to fund schools.

More than 80 percent of those voting in last week’s Progress Poll online were against going back to a system in which schools depend mainly on property taxes for funds.

“The penny sales tax is more fair because it is a usage tax and everybody pays it,” one reader wrote. “If you want to pay less taxes, just spend less money, simple as that. People have no control over their property taxes.”

One reader apparently felt that the state would likely raise property taxes, but not do away with the penny sale tax.

“Any time they talk about ‘switching taxes,’ that’s just a code for raising our taxes and hiding it in some kind of shell game.”

One reader said that the school officials needed to learn from South Carolina families.

“I’m making less money, and my bills keep going up, so I have to make tough decisions,” the reader wrote. “That’s just the real world. I wish that people would give me all the money I need to do whatever I want, but that ain’t going to happen. School folks need to realize that.”

We only had one who voted “Yes” who forwarded a comment to us.

“Property tax is steady from year to year,” the reader wrote. “Sales tax varies depending on how the economy is. So when you need it most, it’s not there. Schools need a steady base of funding so long-term plans can be made to improve education in our state.”