By Marianne Lincoln
Election endorsement
You might already have a ballot in your hand for your local school district levy. As a former school board member, I want to share some thoughts about this process.
The State Supreme Court decision directing the state legislature to fully fund education has had some issues at the legislative level.
First, the levies no longer fund extra stuff, most of it goes to basic education these days as well as transportation. Almost 30% of Bethel’s annual budget is levy funds. If a levy failed, it would be totally devastating. On the board during the recession, we had great difficulty taking 7% out of the budget. It is unimaginable what a 30% cut could do.
Second, there is a levy “lid” that has been slowly creeping upward. In other words, the legislature tells the districts how much they are allowed to raise using levy funds. For several years Bethel’s has been lower than the maximum. When the past year’s state budget came out, it counted these potential levy funds as part of the funding the state is providing and raised the limit again. In conservative districts, it is more difficult to pass levies and those districts are being hurt by the state’s funding formula that counts levies as part of state funding rather than separate, local funding.
Third, levies are sincere proposals. The school board spend a great deal of time deciding what to put on the ballot. Honestly, they wish they didn’t have to. They would love to have the state just pay the honest cost of doing business as a school district. The real people that crunch numbers to keep school districts running are smart and kind folks who try hard to make the use of your tax dollars effective and efficient.
This weekend, board members from across the state are in Olympia, getting appointments to talk to their local legislators. Funding is most assuredly on the list.With the proportion of levy funding so high, school districts can no longer afford to lose levy elections, but they have no choice but to run them when the previous levy expires. They have tried for several years to get the legislature to move away from using local levies.
A unique thing about levies that many school districts have discovered, when levies pass and local schools are better funded, property values go up because the area becomes more desirable. When property values go up, you pay more taxes on your property, but you can also make more when you sell your home.
Overall, you win when kids are better educated. Kids with skills that graduate and get jobs save tax payers considerable money over taking care of the ones who end up on public assistance or in prison. Public schools are the backbone of an educated voting democracy and the starting point of all professionals in business. Everyone benefits by having a well-trained workforce.
A tide lifts all boats and a passing levy creates a better community for everyone. If you don’t believe this, take one of the tours the school districts have been offering to the public. You would be amazed at the work going on in schools these days. One day the kid next door may be your doctor or the businessman repairing your car, either way, it pays to make sure each generation continues to get access to the valuable skills an education can provide.
Please vote – and vote yes.
Pierce Prairie Post 