RSSM&O levies crucial for local schools
Yakima Herald-Republic Editorial Board
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This editorial appears in the Jan. 24, 2010, Yakima Herald-Republic.
If the Legislature did its job, maintenance-and-operations levies for schools wouldn't be necessary.
That, of course, is not the case. In fact, levies are crucial to the fiscal viability of school districts because the state only pays for roughly 80 percent of what's considered basic education, a requirement mandated by the Washington Constitution. To make up the difference, schools have been forced to seek tax levies from district patrons.
For 20 school districts in Central Washington, voters will mark their mail-in ballots during the next two weeks and decide the fate of M&O levies that will pay for salaries, textbooks, extracurricular activities, roof reconstruction, field trips, music programs, computer upgrades, fuel, food services -- the list goes on.
Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 9.
The levy requests range from two to four years in duration and many have property tax rates that are only slightly higher than the existing levy that's to be replaced.
Though a simple majority is now needed to pass a levy (previously it required 60 percent), it's certainly not the best of times to be asking taxpayers to pay for anything. With the state's and Central Washington's unemployment rate rising each month, as it did again in December, the task of requesting property taxes from cash-strapped residents has only gotten tougher.
Then there's the prospect of additional taxes and fees being approved by state lawmakers as they struggle to fix a $2.6 billion shortfall in expected revenue due to Washington's dwindling sales tax receipts.
Levy equalization funds have also come under scrutiny. These state funds provide equity between property-rich and land-poor school districts. The richer districts can raise far more tax revenues with much lower rates than the land-poor districts.
If lawmakers were to whittle away at these levy equalization funds, every district in Central Washington would suffer. For example, loss of levy equalization funds for the Prosser School District would amount to $1.8 million; for Wapato it would be $3.2 million. These are substantial figures.
To say school district officials are nervous is an understatement.
That's why it's important for voters to approve their respective M&O levies. Failure to do so would mean widespread layoffs among teachers and staff, lost programs, diminished services and larger classrooms -- all of which would harm our children's ability to learn.
Teaching our future civic and business leaders requires everyone to pitch in. For school district patrons, approving the requested levy is a price worth paying.
* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.
Its all about the children. Trust US with Your Children and Your Money.
Public Schools are Not Transparent. They don't easily show you what they are spending your money on now.
Maybe in future when Technology is more advanced you may be informed.
And because our society is still so primitive they can't send the paperwork home with your child showing you what they spend money on now.
The last thing you want on Earth. Is having an adult be drug tested who works around children.
What do they mean, when they say " Education Reform" Hell, you would think nothing is broken.
So, Please vote for More Money and Taxes for your local schools. For the children. It will only speed up education reform.
It 100% in America. The Millions of people working in education do it for the children not the Money. Just ask them.
Where does it end? Tax and spend. It is time to put a stop to spiraling taxes. Only those owning real property are made to pay for schools. Perhaps, it would be more fair for only property owners to vote for tax increases that affect them. And, the argument that property owners are all wealthy, that is simply not true.
So, I urge you to vote against the levies. Make the taxing authorities find a way so all people in a school district are able to contribute to the education of the children. Or, perhaps it is the parent's responsibility to pay for the education we all pay for now.
Comments?
Bob393:
I did as you asked. I voted NO. We cannot afford to pay higher property taxes. We have willingly paid our fair share for years. Enough!
well, Gramma. Good for you. However, the next question: How would you finance schools?
My suggestion would be a sales tax. The reason is this would get everyone to pay, not just those who own property. The less you spend, the less you pay. And, a kiddie tax on sugar treats such as candy and soda with sugar in it. We could also put a school tax on fast foods, doctor's visits, and general foods. Thoughts?
When Adults, Says it about Kids or Children. Its the opposite. Teachers need to stand up !!! Public School Administrations are out of control. Cut the money off and make a stand when they go straight for the classroom. Most of the Money is NOT being spent on the classroom or to reduce class size. The Grease in Public Education is at the Top. Administrations are getting raises every year regardless of any results or improvements. And many people in K thru-12 Education make more than $100,000.
School Board Members across the state are just showing up for extra credit in the community.
School boards thru out the US. Make up one of the largest government body nationally. Its more of a Club in most cases than a government body or a board.
You can Only make a difference locally people, figure it out.
When I don't own land, I give land-owners a mulligan
and shoot down increases that cost 'only' them. I figure, if they want it badly enough, they've got the resources to influence more votes in favor such measures. Mongolian-style-raider times need expirations. Even people without kids need 'em good to work in orphanages and old folks homes.
^^^Bob393, you've got the right idea.
How about a spec. tax on non-educational exempy video games and other goofy stuff? Enforcement for online purchases is TRICKY. Competitive advantage thign.
Against policy, a lot of those $100k teachers work many extra hours at home preparing lessons and grading papers and subsidizing their classroom activities and materials from their own pockets. Very quietly, too.
Report ViolationA sales tax on fast foods, non-educational video games, and text messages on cell phones would bring a lot of revenue. Also, it would be a great idea to charge a once-a-year fee for transporting children to and from school. We've watched kids get on school buses when they only have a few blocks to walk. Ridiculous!
Report ViolationHaving Local schools stop using your own tax dollars for Propaganda and Public Relations would save millions for our state and bring more money to the classroom. A great deal of money and time is being spent to misinform the public. There is nothing to sell in public education, results speak for themselves.
Report ViolationGood idea. Tax on text messaging. Perhaps $.01/text. I would be willing to pay that as I personally use the service. And, since kids use it a lot, according to the implications I read and hear about kids texting while driving, they could support their own education.
It is all about the kids. I am so very tired of hearing this that I choke on my wheaties every time now. The kids and their parents need to learn to fend for themselves a bit. Learn about the outdoors, learn how to cook. Learn how to do the laundry, make a bed, clean a house. And while we talk about cleaning, how about the lawn, car, and windows. The point is that the schools should teach reading, writing and math. The parents should teach about being an adult and a productive member of our society.
Report ViolationHere we go again another tax for schools, lets be clear if it does not pass we will hear how the voters didnt really understand the tax and we will have to vote on it again in 2 months, then again 2 months after that until it passes, have to love the tactics. I wouldnt mind voting yes if I knew the money was for legal residents of the USA and if the Yakima school district was not so top heavy with administrators. The pay for the top administrator of the Yakima shcool district making almost $250,000 per year in pay and benefits really hurts the cause. Lets see some improvement in those SATS then come back to us.
Report Violationhuh/Dont' forget about the orphans or better off as... 1300 homeless in yak, in terms of parentage. There is no excuse, there are bad times.
Can't start 12 yr. olds in 3rd grade, but they DO need to learn it, so when there is emmigration or immigration and /some/ attempt to 'legitimize,' we've gotta take the hit on an oppropriate proportion of the test scores. Your 'undeserving' /are/ more expensive and odds lean toward always will be, but better school now and less excuse for prison tomorrow. Fellowship begins with friendship and positive role models... or something. Just for you, fines for parents whose children are truant and jail time for those who bring home 3 or more consecutive 'F' grades.
---
Seriously, I prefer the tax on text messaging, candy and other JUNK.
If you want to know what people are making in education here is the link. Excel or PDF, 2008-2009 Salaries. Or you can wait for the YHR to report it. They will have every public school in your area. Most people are very surprize. The people who have never taught a class usually make the most money. The last thing a public school wants. The people to be informed. This is all public information.
http://www.effwa.org/main/article.php?article_id=1067
Yakima School District 998753 SORIA BENJAMIN
$320,102.00
Yakima School District 276978D DOEHLE RICHARD A
$133,751.00
Yakima School District 998793 IZUTSU SCOTT
$163,062.00
Now, Look how many people our employed by your local school district. Look @ how many people will vote in the election. Yakima is large enough, we people may have a true voice.
Yakima School District 136984B SCHOLL REBECCA E
$131,855.00
Yakima School District 208867B
MORTIMER BRUCE G M W
$124,990.00
Yakima School District 170145G HANSEN RICHARD E M
$126,779.00
Yakima School District 340765G NOURANI SEYED
$121,649.00
Fire 'em all, than MAYBE I'd vote for a hike...
Report ViolationInformative post. Don't suppose any leniancy for vestment? Do you have the wages of the non-administrative for comparison? Thanks.
Report ViolationValleyboy:
I sure hope the teachers get their automatic raise.
It would be terrible if they didn't... How could they get by... with all the unemployment and stuff?
I am almost through with a book by Newt Gingrich ... "Real Change". There are many statistics regarding our educational systems. This guy hits the nail on the head.
Our educational system is for the Unions and by the Unions with little regard to the real benefit for the children.
In many areas of our country our educational systems are failing, yet you ask any of the teacher's union members the question... "If you are concerned about the failing schools, how do you feel about Charter schools"
They object using all kinds of excuses when in reality, if the kids went to Charter schools, the Union teachers would lose membership.
He has a great analysis of the schools system in Detroit, Michigan.
The book is well-worth reading.
YHR Please approve New Taxes, We are already getting our tax breaks. Thank You. Yakima
State newspaper tax break kicks in
by Rachel La Corte
The Associated Press
Buy YHR Photos Enlarge photo
GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic
Newspapers in Washington state - including the Yakima Herald-Republic and The Seattle Times - are getting a tax break to help them cope with the current hard economic times.
We're very good at separating our opinions from our news coverage," Shepard said. "We've been doing that for hundreds of years. It wasn't our reporters and editors who were asking for this relief
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