Wow! I am truly amazed the (Tahoma) School Board’s crystal ball is telling them that our local economy has improved to the point that they can add another 70 million to the 125 million bond they purposed a little over two years ago — which failed with only a 53 percent yes vote — and it will pass without a problem. Which is evident by its arrogance in putting out a notice for contractors to sign up for the construction of the new school even before the vote.
Let me bring to light some things that have not been quite correctly explained. I spoke to the lady that handles bonds in the King County Assessors Office (who) said that they do not estimate or determine what a bond will cost until they get it. In fact she said I was the first one to contact her from the district. So that makes me a little suspect about the projected $1.47 per thousand. Especially when the bond we are paying on now is $1.61 per thousand and it was only for $45 million. True this bond will expire in 2016. However, we will make our last payment in 2017. I have talked to people who didn’t realize this. In fact a lot of people don’t know how much they pay for schools because they never see their tax statement as it is in escrow with their mortgage lender.
What this means is if the new bond measure passes we will be making double payments for three years, upwards of $100 a month! This should not be too much of a hardship on people that, contrary to popular belief, are still struggling from the downturn.
Don’t forget that if property values go down the levy goes up.
It is evident that we need more schools, but we don’t need this type of grandiose thinking, that is being proposed.
I think the area would be better served to make the Donut Hole into a business park, thus increasing the tax base and job opportunities in the city.
I also noticed that the people that are pushing this bond would benefit the most monetarily from it, (such as) real estate agents, builders, material supply companies, etc.
I have been in the Tahoma school district for fifty years and did my share to help make the schools what they are and I will vote to approve a bond measure if the school board sharpens their pencils and waits until the present bond is paid off.
If the bond does pass I hope the board will be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollar and make sure that the new school is build with quality product that was meant to last more that a few years which was not the case in the last two schools — siding, roofing etc.
Until they get realistic, I think this is too much to soon!
Send a clear message. Vote no!
James Dawson
Maple Valley
