In our opinion: Vote 'yes' for CK school construction levy

There are voters who vote “no” on every tax hike proposal out of principle, others never met a school levy or bond they didn’t like.

But when considering the specifics of the Central Kitsap School District’s construction levy, it becomes clear that the small property tax increase will yield large results. (See story, A1)

The district’s plan took three years and many community members to develop and includes regular progress reports, which should reassure skeptics.

The need for the improvements to be paid for with the levy — and federal and state grants — has been demonstrated. In one stark example, the kids at Jackson Park Elementary School can’t even drink the water.

Although the marginal monthly increase of $5.63 may not sound marginal to a family struggling to pay bills, the full pain felt by a property owner for a $58 million construction plan will be offset by essentially continuing a preexisting tax. Despite bad economic times, investments have to be made, roofs still leak, plumbing still fails and computers still become obsolete.

Most compelling, however, is that if voters don’t approve the levy, the improvements will have to be made anyway, and officials have said they will be paid out of the district’s operations budget. That means taking away from dollars destined for the classroom.

Invest in the future of our community, vote “yes” on the Central Kitsap School District levy.

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