On May 17, the residents of Marysville will have the opportunity to positively change our community through the school bond initiative. Anyone who has driven through town or north along I-5 will notice the hundreds of new homes being built all over the hillside. Our community is growing. Affordable housing is available here and many young families are choosing to make Marysville their home.
The school district and community facilities committee have responded to meet our current and future needs with the May 17 bond issue. This proposal would build a second high school to relieve overcrowding at Marysville-Pilchuck High School – the second largest high school in the state. MPHS would be remodeled and upgraded to better serve students.
A brand new elementary school would be built to handle the overflow from Kellogg Marsh, Allen Creek and Sunnyside elementaries. Liberty and Cascade elementaries, both built circa 1950s, would be rebuilt on their sites, thus adding additional space and fixing aged structures.
Money would also be allocated to replace the expiring tech levy for the next five years, purchase land for future growth and make other needed building upgrades.
These needs and the growing population are not going to go away. The land and construction costs will not go down. They will all increase. Interest rates are relatively low now, saving taxpayers money, but they are rising. Current cost of passing the bond will be $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed value. On a $200,000 home that cost is $264 annually, or $22 a month.
To not act now will only cost everyone more later.
George Dragich
DON WHITFIELD
Citizens for Marysville Schools
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