Rally supports $500 million bond measure for Tacoma schools
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TACOMA, Wash. - The Tacoma School District wants voters to fork out a half-billion dollars in new taxes for better schools. Supporters believe it will help kids learn better - and maybe even save their lives.
And on Sunday they were out in force - it looked and sounded like a high school pep rally.
Several hundred passionate teachers, students and parents vowed to win the battle for the hearts of Tacoma taxpayers.
"It's important that we have healthy, safe homes. It's important that we have healthy, safe schools," says parent Jennifer Boutell.
Saturday's rally at a local community center launched the campaign for Proposition 1 - a $500 million, 30-year bond measure that would cost an average household nearly $5 a month in new taxes.
The money would pay to rebuild the district's most dilapidated schools - and upgrade many of the others - fixing problems that distract students from learning.
"And you can't focus on the teacher 'cause you're focusing on that 'cause it's all broken and messed up," says fourth-grader Annabelle Daniel.
The bond measure, if approved by voters, would pay for new windows and plumbing, science labs and access for the disabled, fire sprinklers and earthquake retrofitting.
It would also pay for improved security - something that's foremost on the minds of parents after the mass shooting last month at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut.
"I don't want my daughter to be going to school in a building that isn't designed for modern security needs," says one parent.
Deputy Superintendent Joshua Garcia knows kids cannot reach their full potential if they don't feel safe.
"We know that on any given day, it can happen anywhere in America," he says.
It's not about scaring support out of the community - but the money would help pay for many new security features.
"We will always use every opportunity to improve safety for our kids our teachers and for our community," says Garcia.
So far, no opposition group has stepped forward publicly. Election Day is Feb. 12.
And on Sunday they were out in force - it looked and sounded like a high school pep rally.
Several hundred passionate teachers, students and parents vowed to win the battle for the hearts of Tacoma taxpayers.
"It's important that we have healthy, safe homes. It's important that we have healthy, safe schools," says parent Jennifer Boutell.
Saturday's rally at a local community center launched the campaign for Proposition 1 - a $500 million, 30-year bond measure that would cost an average household nearly $5 a month in new taxes.
The money would pay to rebuild the district's most dilapidated schools - and upgrade many of the others - fixing problems that distract students from learning.
"And you can't focus on the teacher 'cause you're focusing on that 'cause it's all broken and messed up," says fourth-grader Annabelle Daniel.
The bond measure, if approved by voters, would pay for new windows and plumbing, science labs and access for the disabled, fire sprinklers and earthquake retrofitting.
It would also pay for improved security - something that's foremost on the minds of parents after the mass shooting last month at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut.
"I don't want my daughter to be going to school in a building that isn't designed for modern security needs," says one parent.
Deputy Superintendent Joshua Garcia knows kids cannot reach their full potential if they don't feel safe.
"We know that on any given day, it can happen anywhere in America," he says.
It's not about scaring support out of the community - but the money would help pay for many new security features.
"We will always use every opportunity to improve safety for our kids our teachers and for our community," says Garcia.
So far, no opposition group has stepped forward publicly. Election Day is Feb. 12.
I already pay over 2,000 in taxes that go to schools, Counting just the houses on my street that would be 30,000 and how many home are in Tacoma that are paying that  I will always vote NO, manage the money that you already have!
"It's not about scaring support out of the community - but the money would help pay for many new security features."
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Of course it is. Fear is a favorite tactic to gain support. They know they can't get support if they are transparent and list fair and honestly the things that need repair or replacement. They will add in their pork and bloat the projects and pay for it with others money by scaring them out of it.
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Enrollment in Tacoma Schools is declining. I don't understand why a bond is needed, close schools with low enrollment and combine students. I wish I could find the link, but when Tacoma School teachers were on strike last year, the News Tribune posted an article showing Tacoma's operating costs vs. other school districts and they were 3-10 times higher in costs. Lower operating costs before asking for more money. I'm overtaxed now.
The schools never miss a chance for a money grab - renew your committment to your own fiscal future!!!!
I will not support, vote for, ever will until the crooked politics that continue to overshadow and will until the want to be's are removed
Does anyone else think that half a BILLION is a bit much???? What happened to chalk boards, text books, and quality teachers?Â
I am confused. I assume that the amount of the levy was based on much prior assessments concerning facility improvements and their attendant costs. Now with the building up to voting on the levy, Â security issues are now to be considered as part of the package. This raises some real concerns as to the thinking that went into deciding the amount of the levy. I am very concerned with the turning on a dime approach.Â
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Justify the expenditure. Â And this is when unknown additional taxes are just around the corner, over which we have lost control. We can now only deal with any additional taxes under our control. If the security issue and its costs can so quickly evolve, what other quick decisions were the basis for the other costs?Â
 @George Thinking on security hasn't evolved since the board approved the bond measure. New schools are built with this in mind (and would have been built that way regardless of what happened in Connecticut last month.)
You bet, just shovel more cash at the school system. Look how well that has worked.
This repeating tax grab stuff is getting old and unfair....I'd like to hear about some accountability measures coming into place before throwing yet more money that is most  likely going indirectly to unions or illegal immigrants who will be soaking these funds up. Someone with common sense please close the door that is wide open and welcoming to illegal immigrants that rob the state funds from our schools with anchor babies and state welfare support. Verify or go bankrupt one day! The other side of school funding unfairness seems to be that the teachers unions always want more...more and more despite the depressed economy. These workers keep adding these supposedly needed funds to their bank accounts having about 100k salaries with fat pensions. I imagine some in that circle think they are like kings that can keep dipping for more again with the taxpayers being their fools working jobs for their excess and luxury. There is always this sales pitch to the taxpayer by using tactics like the face of a cute child as the union disguise and portray it's so bad for these children that the taxpayer should sacrifice more for them. When has there been a school worker taking a real significant pay cut or reduced pension if it was so much about the kids? Why they need so much? Something smells wrong. I like to see a report on that. Fix the holes and make it fair showing of it before your taxpayers want to move out of a tax burdened ditch hole.
$500,000,000? Â Good grief! Â What exactly are people in the Tacoma School District getting for the money they are already spending and how long will it take before there is another putsch for more? Â What objective proof is there of improved education following past bond measures? Â
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it doesn't take new buildings and technology to give kids a firm foundation in arithmetic, reading and writing skills in elementary school and if that is not done, no amount of money, new buildings and technology can overcome that in middle school and high school. Â Might as well spend that half billion on a plant producing solar panels that cost 6 times as much as those produced in China. Â Â
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 @Opus8no5 Well said... There is absolutely zero proof that spending more money on schools results in better outcomes...Â
Tacoma Schools will be holding a series of open houses at each of the 14 schools receiving major renovations/replacement. These are informational meetings run by the schools and not campaign events. Please stop by if you have questions or would like to see the schools.http://www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/Calendar/pages/EventCalendar.aspx
I'm surprised some idiot hasn't chimed in with paying the teachers with turnips as they don't deserve a decent wage. But reading the rest of these comments, I guess no one wants to pay for their full time day care and the slide to third world status continues for the US.
 @Common Sense 60-80K a year to work 190 days a year is 3d world huh? You must be a proud grad of the public school system with math skills like that.
The article is missing information on who exactly would be asked to pay. I'm assuming that this would affect property owners only in Pierce Co.? Or is it homeowners specifically in the Tacoma School District?Â
@lakeview This would only be the property owners in Tacoma since it is the Tacoma School District. Believe me this isn't the end of it. This is just one bond and there will be many more levies to follow in the next 30 years.
I can assure everyone the quality of the building has nothing to do with whether Johnny learns to read. Â My son is in Ukraine going to school. Â The building he is in was built more than 50 years ago. Â They have chalkboards rather than dry erase markers. Â He speaks four languages and is at the top of his class in every subject. Â The reason is because he has a supportive family and committed teachers. Â There are also only 10 students per teacher at his school. Â He gets homework ever night and has since 1st grade. Â Â He went to school here for a while, but with 25 students per teacher and discipline problems in the schools, he did not learn nearly as well. Â
So stick home/property owners for even more taxes to supplement the fact that olympia cannot fulfill it's constitutional duty. What a load. I vote no on any levy that doesn't benefit the levy tax payer. I'm not going to hear about my kids attending public school either, we home schooled and still had to pay.
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Vote no on all increased or existing levy renewals.
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Nice propaganda picture. Parents that involve their children in pitiful political functions/propaganda ralleys should be charged with abuse.
This bond will benefit the taxpayer. Record low financing rates and construction costs will allow Tacoma schools to refinance existing short-term debt and plan for the next 20 years of building costs at significant savings to taxpayers. For the first 5 years or so, your taxes will actually go down. (Because otherwise you'd be stuck paying off a short-term levy with less than ideal financing.)If we don't do this now, we'll be looking at more short term financing just to keep the buildings we have in any kind of shape for students. It doesn't make any sense not to do this now.Â
@tacomamama The problem is that the property taxes are already TOO HIGH. They need to sell bonds and give the property owners a break. This is only one of many levies that we are saddled with and there will be plenty more come down the road in the next 30 years. What happens when your kids get out on their own and can't afford to buy a home or even rent because the cost of a mortgage and property taxes is more than they can manage.
 @tacomamama "This bond will benefit the taxpayer"
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I would bet that most of the people paying the levy ie property and home owners, will not benefit. School levies have NOTHING to do with property ownership. The state has failed and so people that want to suck up even more money out of the depressed property owners want more. Instead of doing something useful like bringing suit against the state for it's failure to support the CONSTITUTIONAL demanded responsibilities of providing an adequate education.But that would mean cuts to social programs and that ain't happening by the law breakers in olympia.
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The only thing the left leaning people can think of is throw more money at by making already distressed property tax payers pay more.
@komoispropaganda I have full knowlege of what property taxes are and I'm not confusing them with state taxes. Every 6 months I write out a check of $1500+ and send it to pay my property taxes. When you know what you are talking about I might take you seriously until then have a nice day.
 @Jatok "About half of the property taxes go to the schools. If you own you pay"
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You're trying to mix state TAXES and a local levy. Levies are to cover for the states FAILURE to use property taxes properly, not to mention the lottery.
@komoispropaganda About half of the property taxes go to the schools. If you own you pay, if you rent the owner passes the cost on to you. Who do you think pays directly for all of these levies and construction bonds for the schools. You said levies have nothing to do with property ownership and you couldn't be more mistaken. I did give your post consideration and I still stand by my post.
 @Jatok WTF are you talking about? I don't rent to anybody. Did you even give consideration to my post before trying to drive this thread off course? The main topic is simple, milk the cow until she's dry and to heII with the constitution.
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Now what do property owners have to do with supplying taxes to schools? Where's the connection?
@komoispropaganda @tacomamama School levies have everything to do with property owners, that's who pay the property taxes and of course those taxes are also passed on to renters.
Financing rates might be lower but construction cost are through the roof but of course they probably aren't going to get any lower. The cost of construction materials have almost doubled in the past couple of years, or haven't you noticed. As for a half BILLION DOLLARS, no way...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
 @Crimsonkid You said yourself it isn't going to get less expensive. If you don't want to pay this now, how much will you pay over a period of decades at short-term financing rates? Because much of this work can't wait and will be done.Â
If I knew the money was going to good use, I would vote for this but so much money is wasted in our public schools. I'd definitely vote yes if a NON Tacoma School District financial manager was put in charge to oversee the finances and authorize funds for voter approved projects ONLY.
 @Tattooed_Angel Capital funds can and do only go to buildings.Â
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@tacomamama That doesn't mean that the money isn't still wasted. After reading the Prop 1 proposal, I will definitely be voting NO on this.
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http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/1673
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Tacoma's property tax rate is the highest in the state. The average rate across the state is $4.33 per $1000 of assessed value. Tacoma's rate is $7.91 per $1000, which is TWICE as much as what it paid in Seattle and Bellevue.
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Also this $450 million bond is largest in Tacoma history. This $450 million bond is MORE than ALL the state's school bonds COMBINED that were passed in Washington State last year.
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I am curious to see what percentage of the current Tacoma property tax goes to the Tacoma School District. Once I find that info, I'll post it.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @tacomamama Last year nearly half of my property taxes went to the TSD. Â
 @Tattooed_Angel  @tacomamama Voter pamphlet statements are capped at 250 words, they aren't a huge undertaking and the deadline was well-publicized. Honestly, I think that if people felt passionately enough about it they would have stepped forward to submit a statement. If not, it's not the system's fault.Â
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Robert Hill's (the incarcerated individual who was going to write an against statement) mother came to the campaign rally today. We had a nice conversation.
@tacomamama Thanks. I am leary that there is no "against" statements in this pamphlet. While 2 people did write against statements, neither will appear.
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http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/01/01/2420669/voters-pamphlet-lacks-against.html
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I appreciate having the "for" and "against" argument. I want to see the breakdown like the other pamphlet had.
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I haven't had the time but when I do, I still plan on researching what percentage of Tacoma's property taxes currently go to the school district.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @tacomamama http://www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/information/Pages/Neighborhood-School-Improvements-and-Safety-Upgrades----Proposition-1.aspx
@tacomamama If it is, my apologies. I can't locate any other Tacoma SD Prop 1 info.
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KOMO, do you have Prop 1 information available? Can you please post a link?
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 @lakeview That link is not for the current bond measure. That looks like the 2006 election.