Tell us how $1.52 per day is going to stimulate the economy.  You going to buy a half gallon of gas?

Pretty damned cheap way of improving schools, if you ask me.

You don't dribble it out daily. You'd pay $277 twice a year with your taxes...like you always have - if you're a property owner. If $1.52 is so little, let the families with kids pay it. $1.52 would buy 92 gallons of gas and get you 2,300 miles at 25 mpg. Twice a year. That would get you to Denver and back with a little left over for skiing.

That's about the minimal annual amount per tax return that the President and House of Representatives have OK'd as an economic stimulus, the Senate soon to follow. The difference being that lower income people be more likely to spend the money from the gov., stimulating the economy. Passing a levy like this will, instead, take money AWAY from the individuals owning a home. And, it will make home owning more difficult and distasteful, thus further hurting the ailing economy.

Schools would be spending very little of it locally. Where do you really think they will buy their computers? Downtown Olympia?

Do you own property? Do you REALLY think that another immense increase for the schools (second in 2 years) is going to be well spent? Where did the first levy's money go?

The monies they ask for would be reasonable if it was the only source of local income for the schools. But we passed a levy only 2 years ago for the exact same thing. The greed of the schools is insatiable. They don't seem to be accounting for what they got nor what they're going to spend this money for.

I suggest you read my entire post.  Most of my other points have not been discussed.

It should matter where the OSD buys computers: they should have the kids build-em, a great tech program, and realistic (I'm a big fan of the cooperative extension model in education).

I'd like to see the OSD adopt an economic sustainability initiative.

Thanks for posting this question. I've been struggling as well with this issue as well. I am a HUGE supporter of education and believe in paying into the system even though we don't (technically) have any kids (subject to change on or about June 28, 2008). However, this increase is, for lack of better verbiage, just TOO much (sorry to be so redundant and vague). For us, it will result in an additional $33 a month on our mortgage. Sure, not so much for some, but for us, who live paycheck to paycheck, it's something (we still have dial-up for god's sake). We've owned this house for 2 years (our first), and every year, our taxes go up! Last year, I got my COLA raise and within a week was notified that my taxes went up. There goes that raise! It's just frustrating, I guess cuz you just never seem to get ahead. 

I'm reticent, I admit.  Maybe my arguements aren't as thought out as Phred's, but from a struggling couple ready to start a family in their first home that we own, it's a tough pill to swallow.  So my "it's just too much" arguement will have to suffice for right now.  I guess I'm just looking for some more information.  Again,  thanks for bringing it up, it's a great topic of conversation.

Housing costs are outrageous.  People are paying out the nose for a basic necessity.  Adding property tax to that is a terrible burden for families struggling to get by.

Let's abolish the property tax!  No more levies at all!

[Sneek in progressive topic here: Let's do away with the regressive sales tax, too, and start a state level progressed income tax to fund our needs - like education.]

The Canaanite's Call

Historically, the gross majority of monies goes to feed the bureaucracy...create programs, committees, curriculum changes, ad naseum.

Eliminate the football team. That'll save a bundle. Eliminate the teaching assistants. Save more.  Let the parents pay a 'toll'.  That'll pay for more programs!

You need a reality check.

creating programs, cirriculum improvments (committees?????) are bureaucracy?  Should we revert to ink wells in the desks and teach "ritin'" even though the world is computer operated?

Try checking to see how much revenue the football team creates.

I don't think you are well thought out, Phred.

I would love to see school funds disconnected from housing >period<.

Education needs to take priority over foreign policy and DoD operations abroad.

Academic standards should be a "level playing field" nationwide-

Phred asked people not to vote for these levies, many people said no to that. WHY? Why is this tax a good thing? Where is the money coming from and where is it going? Is there any hidden pork? Like the schools and families thing las election is this just a secret way to fund a justice center? If we want to educate the community so that they can cast an informed ballot, then people should start answering these questions.

Here is a link to some more information on the levies.  I don't know if it helps answer any questions as it seems  pretty vague.  Levy info 

Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life. ~Ludwig van Beethoven

 I don't own a home, so this won't affect me one way or another.  I do think it is unfair for an entire community to vote on taxing only a certain group.  The schools should be supported primarily by those using them.  Also I think property taxes are an unfair way of raising revenue, as the burden on property owners is much greater than the burden on none property owners.  Seriously folks, outside of sales tax the only other taxes I pay to the state each year is a $20 tax to the DNR for my slip, and $40 or so in registration for my sailboat.  Yet someone who owns a home and has no children is paying through the nose and supporting most of government.  This is simply not fair.  I'm voting no simply because I think the whole thing is unfair.

One loves to posess arms, though they hope to never have occassion for them.

Thomas Jefferson to George Washington 1796

I pay $2,300 a year for taxes.  My retired neighbor pays $300 a year. 

My "golf course home" is at the lower end of average home pricing in Thurston County.  I pay much less in taxes than many do, but my real point in posting earlier was to demonstrate that retirees "on fixed income" (trust me, my neighbor isn't hurting) DO get tax relief.

My wife has got one of those mediocre state jobs (yep....there's lots of them).  Without both our incomes, either of us would be renting an apartment.

Now, saying all that I AM a proponent of lower cost housing for lower income people.  The American Dream should live and not at the expense of raping the environment with over-crowded row houses.  Again, I watch us "rebuild" Iraq while our own people suffer.  Rather silly, huh?

...downright dorky.

What does education have to do with housing?

Housing & Education are separate goals of society, so why connect these dots?