This article was published in ClarkCountyToday.com on Jan 21, 2025 Area resident Carolyn Schultz-Rathbun offers her insight and perspective on the Hockinson School Bond Carolyn Schultz-Rathbun for Clark County Today At first glance, the Hockinson school bond measure looks like every school bond conversation everywhere. Parents and administrators enthuse over things the new bond would provide: a second elementary school, safety improvements at existing schools, a high school career and technical building, a covered outdoor area at the middle school, improved traffic flow at the current elementary school, a new high school track, and artificial turf on the high school … [Read more...]
Hockinson School District February 2025 Bond–No Position
A Closer Look at the Hockinson School Bond: February 11, 2025 Hockinson School District has called a special election for an $87.75 million bond measure to fund a long list of objectives: a second elementary school, safety improvements at existing schools, a career and technical education building at HHS, a covered outdoor area at HMS, improved traffic flow at the current elementary school, a new high school track, and artificial turf on the high school football/soccer field. Many of us simply can’t afford all of this. Property owners currently pay $2.98/thousand of assessed value for outstanding bonds and levies. This would raise that to $3.69/thousand. We also pay approximately … [Read more...]
Opinion: Where do we go from here at Ridgefield School District?
This is the final article in a series by Heidi Pozzo looking into the Ridgefield School Bonds. She offers some thoughts on where to go whether the bonds pass or not. Heidi Pozzo believes the message should be clear: people are unhappy their perspective is not being heard and considered Heidi Pozzo for Clark County Today There seem to be two common themes that have emerged during the Ridgefield School District bond campaign and election. The first being a Rorschach test in what people see and the second being a feeling of “it’s too much.” Heidi Pozzo For some, it is plain as day that the plan developed many years ago is what the community wants and is the only path that makes … [Read more...]
Opinion: When journalism fails – Ridgefield School District endorsement
Published at ClarkCountyToday.com on April 16, 2024. Ridgefield resident Heidi Pozzo adds ‘the rest of the story’ not covered by a newspaper’s recent endorsement of Ridgefield School District bond Heidi Pozzo for Clark County Today As citizens, we look to our institutions to perform roles that support a flourishing society. Media as an institution has a dual role: holding power to account and providing citizens with information to make informed decisions. Heidi Pozzo That’s why I was disappointed with The Columbian’s decision to issue an opinion in support of Ridgefield’s bond proposals timed to coincide with ballots being mailed. Their rationale was that enrollment has … [Read more...]
Opinion: Tax rates go down. tax dollars go way up in the Ridgefield School District
This article was published in Clark County Today on April 12th 2024 and explains the "rate" vs. dollars relationship of taxes when you consider bonds and levy's. Its worth the read. Heidi Pozzo shares what’s actually happening to your property tax dollars in the Ridgefield School District Heidi Pozzo for Clark County Today It is April. Tax month. By now you’ve received your property tax bill and are getting ready to pay for the first half of the year taxes. Heidi Pozzo If you flip over your bill, you’ll see on the back rates for each taxing jurisdiction. At the top are the rates for voted levies. You’ll see one there for Ridgefield School District. Rate per thousand is … [Read more...]
Commentary: Ridgefield School District capital bonds — dollars and cents
This article was posted in TheRelector on April 8, 2024 The last three to four years have been difficult for many of us, not the least of which are the financial burdens. As I write this, gasoline is up more than 40 cents per gallon to over $4 in the last two weeks. Assessed home values continue to skyrocket; the median home price in Clark County is now about $627,000. In the last 12 years, the Washington state budget has ballooned from $30 billion to $74 billion. Taxes are up massively. Inflation has hit 40-year highs. School districts have given large compensation increases to personnel putting a squeeze on operational budgets. Between 52% and 54% of property taxes go to public … [Read more...]
Where did the data come from for Ridgefield School District Bond Articles?
There has been some question as to what the information resources are for the various articles on the Ridgefield school district bonds. Following is an attempt to share as many of the papers, articles, stories, data sources and information explored to date. the list continues to grow but judge for yourself whether an honest effort to be comprehensive and thorough has been made. Whenever people read an article with analysis and perspectives, there’s always the question of where the data comes from. And while attempts have been made to link to as many sources as possible, some articles have run as print or in places that strip out links. Additionally, some source material came through … [Read more...]
How $20 million becomes $90 million in 14 years at Ridgefield School District
This article was published at Clark County Today on April 1, 2024. No it's not April Fools...walk through the numbers for yourself. The Ridgefield School District budgeted a roughly $3 million loss for 2023-2024 and is projecting a roughly $1.3 million loss now. Ridgefield resident Heidi Pozzo doesn’t believe it is due to a lack of funding. Heidi Pozzo for Clark County Today By now you’ve probably seen the news from Clark County Today that school districts are struggling with budgets. Those struggles aren’t confined to larger school districts, virtually every school district in the area is working on budget shortfalls. Heidi Pozzo Will Ridgefield School District suffer … [Read more...]
Ridgefield resident Heidi Pozzo discusses the agreements between the city of Ridgefield and the Ridgefield School District to support civic life for area citizens
This article was published at Clark County Today. You can read the original article by clicking on the link to the left. Heidi Pozzo for Clark County Today Who pays for it? As part of the 2017 bond, Ridgefield School District began taking on a number of programs that support civic life. Important programs that every community should have. A place for people to meet. Community education. Sports. Youth programming. People love them. They build community and facilitate neighbors getting to know one another. Heidi Pozzo But these aspects of civic life are typically in the domain of cities. It is part of their core function and part of how they plan and design flourishing … [Read more...]
Opinion: Ridgefield School District decisions impact capacity and overcrowding
This is the least in a series of investigative reports by Heidi Pozzo. She started with the bonds and as she dug deeper she uncovered more and more questions. Give this latest chapter a read. The original was published at Clark County Today. Opinion: Ridgefield School District decisions impact capacity and overcrowding | ClarkCountyToday.com Ridgefield School District has partially created its own capacity and overcrowding issues, according to Ridgefield resident Heidi Pozzo Heidi Pozzo for Clark County Today Ridgefield School District has partially created its own capacity and overcrowding issues. In a prior article, I walked through a series of decisions the District made … [Read more...]
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