In the upcoming election we are asked to consider changing the state Constitution to allow a simple majority of voters to approve levies requested by their local schools. Please vote no for the following reasons:
1) A majority of the voters — instead of a majority of property owners — must approve this measure; there will be people who will vote that will not pay one cent of this tax. The higher threshold provides a fair means of offsetting this inequity.
2) School levies are meant to be a community’s way of funding transformational activities like new curriculum or important activities that are not directly connected with education like sports or maintenance. If approved, theLlegislature will find it easy to cut state funding and make the local taxpayers pay for normal educational items that are part of the constitutionally-mandated “paramount duty.” The ability of districts to do “quality of instruction” projects will fast disappear.
3) This change does not only apply just to Maintenance and Operations levies that now are so vital to a school’s well-being, but also to capital levies (not bonds), transportation and technology levies — which voters have historically had harder times supporting.
Most districts on the west side of the state pass their Maintenance and Operations levy now, so local voters will not see any benefit.
Finally, the higher threshold serves as the taxpayer’s final measure of accountability for good stewardship of our schools.
Voting no will not harm our students but will force the people who represent us to buckle down and do a proper job of supporting the hard working people who provide good educational opportunities for our students.
Dennis Wick
Snohomish
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