Voters need to support Tacoma Public Schools now

Next month, Tacoma voters will be asked whether or not they will support two school funding measures.

One will replace an expiring tax that pays for basic operations within the district. The other will add additional costs to the homeowner in order to rebuild and revamp three of Tacoma’s aging schools.

Voters should support both of these measures on the ballot Feb. 9.

During a tough economy, many families are cutting back or doing without, but our public school system is not a line item we can scrimp on to save a few bucks.

These propositions are not frivolous ballot measures that could be put on the back burner until the local economy picks up. Funding for public education is one of few measures that should be supported despite a dismal economy. Students need teachers, supplies, programming and technology now. And postponing capital improvements again will only increase the need for updated facilities down the road.

Tacoma has had a long history of supporting its public school system. However, voters failed to pass construction bond measures in 2006 and 2009.

It has been close to a decade since Tacoma schools have received financial support to bring school sites up to modern standards, and the district is starting to fall behind on its long-term capital improvement plan, which aims to renovate all of Tacoma’s schools over the next 30 years.

Proposition 2 would generate about $140 million over the next six years and would rebuild two aging and out-of-date middle schools, Baker and Hunt, and provide much needed improvements to Tacoma’s oldest elementary school, Washington.

It would also pay for small projects at sites throughout the district, such as improvements to roofing, playgrounds and playfields, and energy efficiency updates to buildings. Technology improvements across the district would bring all of Tacoma’s student computers up to date. More than half of the district’s computers lag behind current technological standards.

Proposition 1 would replace an existing tax that accounts for 22 percent of the district’s basic operations budget, which accounts for educational programming, materials and salaries for about 600 staff people.

These measures would cost the average Tacoma homeowner $1.84 per month (or six cents per day) starting in 2011 for Proposition 1 and $5.74 more per month (or 19 cents per day) for Proposition 2, compared to 2009 rates.

The current tax rate is $4.80 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for Tacoma property owners. If both propositions passed, it would bring the tax rate to $5.81 per $1,000, meaning a total increase of $1.01 per $1,000 to support basic operations, new schools and technology and building upgrades across the district.

During a time when people are making less and many are losing jobs, it can be difficult to imagine spending any additional money.

However, every child deserves to have the best-case scenario to succeed in his or her education.

By passing these propositions, staffing levels can be kept up, keeping class sizes from growing. Students can attend schools that are up to par structurally and technologically with current, relevant and challenging educational programming and teachers with up-to-date training.

Rejecting these proposals may save the average taxpayer some money now, but would have long-lasting impacts in our classrooms. Educating the youth of our community is one of the most valuable investments we can make in our city. Tacoma students should have every opportunity to get the support and access needed to become successful in the classroom and in life – regardless of our tighter budgets.

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