By Corinne Lucas As many of us have just finished figuring our taxes or are in the midst of them, it may be hard to think of passing a bond measure for our schools to the tune of $19.4 million. Examples of governmental waste and excess are all around us, but I am comfortable in saying that this will not be the case with this measure. Our Eatonville School District is fiscally responsible, skilled at handling construction projects, and responsive to our community. Our district does not take asking for more taxes lightly. Superintendent Krestin Bahr works hard to find outside grant money for our schools first. Since she began in 2013, she has gone out for more than 15 grants, totaling over $387,000. Her team is successful at writing grants, too, as our schools have been awarded all but one. These dollars are great since they do not rely on the whims of our state Legislature, or the pocketbooks of our local taxpayers. The last bond, run in March of 2006, for the remodel of our school buildings was refinanced four times in December 2012, February 2013, December 2014 and February 2015 for a savings of over $6 million. That savings is passed on to you, the taxpayer, actually decreasing the tax rate you approved in 2006. A bond is a loan - like your homeowner or construction mortgage. When the investment climate is unstable - as in a recession, or presidential election year GÇô school bonds become very attractive for investors, as they are more stable than other securities. This bond comes at a time when the possibility is high of refinancing and actually coming in with a lesser tax rate. Therefore, the new tax rate the Eatonville district is asking for is just the high estimate. Your actual tax rate may be lower. The remodel bond of 2006 came in on time and under budget. There were monies available to remodel the swimming pool and outfit our state-of-the-art high school weight room. Now we have the opportunity to make our athletic facilities match our beautiful campuses. Our dollars can be trusted in the hands of such responsible spenders. This project is not a "Bertha.GÇ¥ Our district team will take the bond monies and then get to work with the actual plans on construction. Public input will be heard as they work out the details of construction; there will be opportunity to participate. The plans you have seen are just a beginning point. No architects have been hired yet, no permits have been taken out. It is all just on paper. That being said, these plans have been carefully researched by planning groups since last May. Teachers, administrators, community members and School Board members were all involved in the effort. In many interactions I have had with her, Mrs. Bahr has voiced her commitment to using local contractors in the construction, and community collaboration in planning of these projects. The rate of $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation is not unreasonable. Our current tax rate is $5.53 per thousand. This measure would bring it up to $6.73. Our nearest neighbors' proposed rates are all higher than that. Bethel School District residents pay $7.67, Yelm $6.77, and White River $7.19. Knowing that it's a 25-year bond makes me comfortable that there will not be another ask for years to come. Our schools are not overcrowded, and the plans for facilities are built to last. An investment in our schools breaks out to be $240 per year (for a $200,000 home). This is also the maximum rate. If refinanced, that rate will likely fall. As a parent, a former teacher, passionate education advocate and local taxpayer, I urge you to vote YES for our Eatonville bond measure, Proposition 1, on April 26.
Corrine Lucas is president of Eatonville Citizens for Education.
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