As published in the Anacortes American April 18, 2007:
Robert Emerson’s April 4 letter opposing the Anacortes school bond, while breathtaking in the amount of ground it covers, has no relevance to Anacortes schools.
Emerson argues we should vote against the school bond because there is “liberal bias” at universities, unions are controlled by Democrats, and government monopolizes education. None of his grumblings address the undeniable need to repair Anacortes’s crumbling school buildings.
Emerson’s final complaint, that his property taxes increased 24 percent last year, reveals a common misunderstanding about how our property tax system works. While Emerson’s property value for 2007 did increase by nearly a quarter (to more than $1 million), his property tax increased only 8 percent, which is attributable to his property’s larger increase in value relative to others in the county.
Because bond amounts are capped, an increase in valuation does not necessarily mean an increase in taxes. To learn the facts about how bonds affect tax rates, please visit www.anacortesbond.com/bonds.aspx. Senior citizens can also find information there about how to obtain property tax exemptions and deferments.
Quality school buildings are critical to quality learning. Based on WASL results, Anacortes public schools are the best in Skagit County. But the one area in which Anacortes slips is the high school level — where the roof leaks, teachers don’t have dedicated classroom space, and the vocational wing is a mess. That’s why the high school is the principal target of the proposed bond.
Let’s make sure Anacortes kids have a quality environment in which to learn. Vote yes for Anacortes schools.
Ryan Walters
Anacortes