Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | How many taxes can we afford?
In regards to the upcoming school levy, ask yourself two questions: a) how much increase in our taxes can you and your neighbors afford and b) have our taxes been spent effectively to improve student academic performance?
In the last 10 years, our property taxes have doubled, like most other folks in the Gig Harbor area. These huge tax increases put many citizens into financial hardship and forces some to move out of their homes. In contrast, student academic performance has not improved but is flat at a mediocre level; despite having new schools built, additional teacher training and increasing amounts of support staff and administrators and extra curricular activities. Half of our students aren’t reading at grade level and more than half are functioning below grade level in math and science. Enough is enough!
Home values have risen dramatically the last 10 years and the population of the greater Gig Harbor area has also increased dramatically, so there are automatically significant additional funds flowing into our public schools, without additional taxation. More money isn’t the answer to improving student academic performance.
Studies show the main element impacting student performance is parental involvement and secondarily of huge importance is the quality of the teachers. None of this requires additional tax money. We need to change to a competitive funding system where the dollars follow the student. Peninsula Schools have not been primarily focused on improving student academic performance, these last ten years. Send a message to the teachers, to the school board and to the superintendent; vote NO on more property tax increases.
Robin Fry
Gig Harbor