Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, January 27, 2010
Election Vote YES on the School Levies
Posted by Stranger Election Control Board on Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Don't like our advice? Make up your own mind by reading the voters' guide statements—featuring cogent pro arguments and unconvincing con arguments—on Prop 1 and Prop 2.
1
Why are these always special elections. For that reason alone, paying for special elections for a single issue like this, we should vote it down until they stop playing these expensive games with our money. Political arrogance is so last decade.
2
Also, if you are in the Lake Washington school district, please consider voting Yes on Proposition No. 3, to build my son's high school in time for him to go there
4
It would be awesome if more of the money was going towards the 500 million maintenance backlog... but what are you going to do?
5
kinaidos @1, you are an idiot.
Yes, doing this as a separate special election is stupid. I'll agree with you there. But that is no reason to vote it down.
Voting it down would devastate and already grossly underfunded school district. This isn't new money. This is simply renewing already existing levies. Without it, the school district is completely fucked.
Voting against this is a shitty way to voice your ire against the poor timing of the election. Try writing to your state rep or the election commission instead.
Yes, doing this as a separate special election is stupid. I'll agree with you there. But that is no reason to vote it down.
Voting it down would devastate and already grossly underfunded school district. This isn't new money. This is simply renewing already existing levies. Without it, the school district is completely fucked.
Voting against this is a shitty way to voice your ire against the poor timing of the election. Try writing to your state rep or the election commission instead.
6
YES
YES
Who wants schools to suck even more?
The shame of Seattle, Bellevue has better schools .... oh my god.
YES
Who wants schools to suck even more?
The shame of Seattle, Bellevue has better schools .... oh my god.
7
As the person who wrote the opposition to Prop I, the BTA levy (and provided information to The Stranger who NEVER even called me to ask any questions), I say, you don't know the issue. At all. Period.
Here's the deal. Seattle Schools does virtually NO basic maintenance. Their own maintenance head admitted this to the Board. And, they have been doing this for over 15 years. So that's why we have an almost $500M backlog of work. That's not good, kids, and it's certainly not normal for any district. And the School Board just lets it go on and on.
So, when they do get around to doing work, guess what? They want us all to pay more for repairs that should have been done sooner and will cost YOU, the taxpayer, more.
Now as I say to my fellow Seattle School parents, that may be okay with us. But what about those who don't have kids in the system or kids at all? Are we as parents all so sure those on a fixed income want to pay more for repairs? Really?
Most of this money goes to 18 buildings and the district has over 90 plus nearly half of those are over 50+ years. That doesn't do much. Oh, and what about those brand new buildings that cost hundreds of millions (the poster child being Garfield at $119M and counting)? You know, if you do no basic maintenance on those buildings either, then what will they look like in 10, 15, 20 years? Where is your taxpayer investment in schools then?
My argument does make sense if you are willing to admit that you know the district has been neglecting and deferring basic maintenance to the point where we have this huge backlog.
It's fine, democratic, whatever to disagree with me. But be honest about it.
Say, "I'm okay with deferred maintenance, I'm okay for paying more for repairs, I'm okay with fewer repairs made because we have to pay so much extra for repairs.
"I'm okay with not ever really knowing where the money from the cuts to the basic maintenance budget went over the last 15+ years."
Say that and I know you have the full picture and are being totally honest about your vote. But don't just say, "it's for the kids" and let it go at that. I know these aren't pleasant truths but they are true.
We will never "levy" our way out of this backlog and this election is not the last you will hear about. It is likely the district will come to the taxpayers in just a few short years to ask for a FOURTH levy to ask you to pay for their poor facilities management.
More...
Here's the deal. Seattle Schools does virtually NO basic maintenance. Their own maintenance head admitted this to the Board. And, they have been doing this for over 15 years. So that's why we have an almost $500M backlog of work. That's not good, kids, and it's certainly not normal for any district. And the School Board just lets it go on and on.
So, when they do get around to doing work, guess what? They want us all to pay more for repairs that should have been done sooner and will cost YOU, the taxpayer, more.
Now as I say to my fellow Seattle School parents, that may be okay with us. But what about those who don't have kids in the system or kids at all? Are we as parents all so sure those on a fixed income want to pay more for repairs? Really?
Most of this money goes to 18 buildings and the district has over 90 plus nearly half of those are over 50+ years. That doesn't do much. Oh, and what about those brand new buildings that cost hundreds of millions (the poster child being Garfield at $119M and counting)? You know, if you do no basic maintenance on those buildings either, then what will they look like in 10, 15, 20 years? Where is your taxpayer investment in schools then?
My argument does make sense if you are willing to admit that you know the district has been neglecting and deferring basic maintenance to the point where we have this huge backlog.
It's fine, democratic, whatever to disagree with me. But be honest about it.
Say, "I'm okay with deferred maintenance, I'm okay for paying more for repairs, I'm okay with fewer repairs made because we have to pay so much extra for repairs.
"I'm okay with not ever really knowing where the money from the cuts to the basic maintenance budget went over the last 15+ years."
Say that and I know you have the full picture and are being totally honest about your vote. But don't just say, "it's for the kids" and let it go at that. I know these aren't pleasant truths but they are true.
We will never "levy" our way out of this backlog and this election is not the last you will hear about. It is likely the district will come to the taxpayers in just a few short years to ask for a FOURTH levy to ask you to pay for their poor facilities management.
8
Thanks, Slog. I brought the form to work with me today (without looking at it) and was hoping you'd have some guidance for me. It's great to know that these are just renewals for already existing levies.
9
@7, I am one of the non-kid-having taxpayers, but I always support school levies. At least this levy is money that we are already used to paying. I understand that you're frustrated with how the money is not being spent in the most efficient way, but how is not sending the schools money for the required maintenance projects going to help anything? The facilities management may suck, I don't doubt the truth in what you say, but the repairs must still be done. If they don't, then what?
10
Okay, what needs to happen is the district needs a wake-up call. Believe me, if there were a petition or something else that would work, I'd do it. I've been an activist in this district for a decade and I know how they work and how they think. They need a cold splash of water in the face.
Money not being used in the most efficient way? Really? You're okay with paying more for fewer projects? I can't believe you would accept this from any other government entity and on such a big scale.
By voting against Prop I, we let the district know we want MORE and BETTER care of our facilities, not the piecemeal, slapdash effort that has gotten us to half-a-billion dollars in maintenance backlog.
They can bring this levy back anytime this year.
Money not being used in the most efficient way? Really? You're okay with paying more for fewer projects? I can't believe you would accept this from any other government entity and on such a big scale.
By voting against Prop I, we let the district know we want MORE and BETTER care of our facilities, not the piecemeal, slapdash effort that has gotten us to half-a-billion dollars in maintenance backlog.
They can bring this levy back anytime this year.
11
So, Westello, you're saying that the Seattle school district needs some push-back to let them know that the funding they're getting isn't being used effectively or efficiently? And, if they heed our concerns that they can re-submit a levy later in the year along with a new plan for using these funds more efficiently? do you think that voting NO on prop #1 will be the clearest way to send that message? In this time of huge cut-backs, I certainly don't want to reduce funds to public education any more than necessary. Thanks for helping me clarify these issues. -Ian
12
So, Westello, you're saying that the Seattle school district needs some push-back to let them know that the funding they're getting isn't being used effectively or efficiently? And, if they heed our concerns that they can re-submit a levy later in the year along with a new plan for using these funds more efficiently? do you think that voting NO on prop #1 will be the clearest way to send that message? In this time of huge cut-backs, I certainly don't want to reduce funds to public education any more than necessary. Thanks for helping me clarify these issues. -Ian
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