By LARRY MANN
The South Kitsap Board of Directors, for a second time in three months, is attempting to pass a bloated $127 million construction bond.
Instead of respectfully reaching out and listening to citizens, they decided instead to spend $100,000 on election costs and mailers. How many new computers or security upgrades could have been purchased with the dollars expended to run the second election?
Voters in South Kitsap love their schools, but is 30 years of debt costing $127 million the only answer?
The assessor’s office says this new property tax is a 27-percent increase. Where is the discussion of lower-cost options and alternatives? The new 220,000-square-foot high school will cost $577 a square foot to build and equip. A custom home in McCormick Woods cost only $150 a square foot.
Demands from South Kitsap Fire and Rescue, and a school maintenance and operations measure, are just a few of the bond and levies that have surpassed the taxing ability for struggling families and those on a fixed income. We just can’t afford more new taxes to build the palace they propose.
The district tells voters they are trying to comply with the unfunded mandate from Olympia to reduce class size. But we must ask, “Is now the time to approve new debt with the resolution of the McCleary decision due to be approved during the 2017 legislative session?’”
Going into debt for $127 million now with the McCleary decision and levy swap ideas pending could result in a double taxation for South Kitsap taxpayers. The district must wait for the state to resolve the school funding issue before levying a new 27-percent school property tax increase. The state needs to fund its own mandates. We must wait on Olympia to act before we take on any new debt.
SKSD currently spends $109 million per year. The new high school is only the tip of the budget iceberg. New future taxes will be needed to pay for teachers, administrators and support staff to fill the new school. Where is that plan?
There are many concerns with this bond when you peel back the layers. The full details are not being made transparent to the voters. Our county auditor is running a stealth election by not sending out a voter’s pamphlet statement as done in Pierce County.
Our registered committee, Concerned Citizens and Taxpayers of South Kitsap, asks voters to question the supporters of the pending bond measure. Ask about lower-cost options and alternatives and ask how the final McCleary decision will impact this new spending and debt.
Voters will quickly realize that this plan, Proposition 1, needs your “no” vote and be stopped for now. We must demand the school district develop a lower-cost plan. Send this bond back to the drawing board with your “no” vote on Prop 1 before April 26.
— Larry Mann is chairman of Concerned Citizens and Taxpayers of South Kitsap.