Do you have the courage to say no to a school levy or bond?

Every 4 years most school districts bring a new levy to the voters asking for money to support Operations and Maintenance. February of 2017 is such a time. In Southwest Washington State four (4) of the nine (9) school districts are asking voters to say yes to funding requests. Two (2) of the districts want 3% more per year; one (1) wants 5% and one (1) wants almost 8% per year. Several districts also have Capital Bonds on the ballot in which they ask for money to build and/or renovate schools.

Hopefully we all take the time to read the measures, ask questions and get answers to guide us in making our decision on how to vote.

From a personal perspective we live in the Battle Ground School District which is the home to about 13,000 students which makes BG the 3rd largest district in SWW. There is a levy on the ballot which we’ve taken a position against. By doing so I/we run the risk of some people saying/thinking that we don’t care about children or we don’t want to pay the bills since we don’t have children in the school system anymore.

In reality we are suggesting a NO vote for fiscal reasons. We simply believe the school board is asking for too much and hasn’t made any effort to explain why they want so much money. If we don’t demand they do their job as elected representatives then we have no room to complain.

Here are some facts for consideration. We’ll finish up with a copy of a Letter to the Editor we sent to The Reflector which was published in their Feb 1, 2017 edition.

Facts:

1. The student growth in the prior 5 years was +135 = +27 per year. The growth simply hasn’t been there.
2. The 2017/2018 school year has started with FEWER students than last year. No one knows why given the construction of apartments and homes. The number to watch is the one reported in May which becomes the final count for the year and is used to settle with the State for funding. So, asking for more money can’t be substantiated.
3. The federal inflation rate has averaged ~1.1% per year for the last 4 years.
4. The average income increase in Clark County last year was ~2.3% (so half got less and half got more)
5. Net average income increase 2.3% – 1.1% = 1.2% (before taxes) = ~1% after taxes
6. The school district was 267 MORE people than are paid for by the State. That works out to about ~28% MORE personnel. When we look at the other nine (9) districts in SWW BG has 2-5 times MORE extra personnel than other districts. When asked if they have ANY data showing the value of the extra people they say….no…but they “feel” they are needed.
7. The levy that is closing out was $103.3 million for the 4 years.
8. The “proposed” levy is $136.54 million which = $33 million MORE or a 32% INCREASE.
9. The school board has NOT explained why they need a $33 million increase or how the money would be spent.
10. The increase in the first year of new levy is 16% so they can front load the increase and then they add another 5% per year for a compounded rate of ~7.8% per year.
11. To stay just ahead of inflation they need about 1.5% more per year. That would equal a levy of ~$109 million. If they nearly tripled the inflation rate by asking for 3% per year they would have asked for ~$116 million. So, at $136.54 million they are asking for $20-$26 million MORE than is needed…with no explanation.

In order to get the school board under control and to get a reasonable increase (say 3% per year with no front-load) voters would have to say NO. The school board would then come back in April and hopefully reduce their “ask” to 3%. To make that happen the levy needs to fail.

Here’s the Letter to the Editor that was published in The Reflector in Feb 1st:

Vote NO on the Battle Ground M&O Levy

I realize that by taking this stance some will label me anti school or say I don’t care about children. I hope people will understand that it’s sometimes harder to say NO than yes. Anyone who has raised children will know that sometimes you want to say yes but that, for the good of the child, you need to say no.

This levy proposal is such a case. One of the lessons to teach a child is the value of money – something some adults never learn. The BG School Board voted 3-2 to send this levy to the voters. They are asking for $33 million MORE than the last levy (32% increase) which in and of itself was a 20% increase over the previous levy.

To keep the same purchasing power as the expiring levy they need about 1.5% (inflation rate) more each year. That means that a new 4 year levy would need to be about $109.63 million. If they asked for 3% more per year it would equal $116.26 million. So how did they get to $136.54 million?

We’re not talking cutting anyone. No jobs lost. No reduction in spending. Just ask for…say 3% per year. Clark County recently raised property taxes 1%. Gasoline taxes are up the last 2 years. Battle Ground is doubling car tab fees. The average income increase in Clark County last year (before taxes or inflation) was about 2.3% (if you got anything). Those on Social Security and fixed incomes see little to no increases.

The BGSD has 267 MORE people on the payroll than the state pays for. That’s about 28% more. That compares to 7% to 16% in surrounding districts. Is there any evidence that the extra people (and expense) results in better test scores or higher graduation rates or anything? No. But that’s ok. We can keep all the current employees but we can do it on 3% more per year or less. Simple.

If you vote NO you’re telling the School Board to come back (in April) with a reasonable number (say 3%) and not ask for $20 million more than they need. Voting NO doesn’t hurt anything except perhaps some egos or agendas. Send a clear message – Vote NO.

Say NO in February so you can say Yes in April.

Dick Rylander