Don’t fall for false claims. Vote yes on school bond

By Lisa Anderson, Gig Harbor
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It’s disheartening to see red signs all over Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula that are blatantly false. Property owners, please don’t fall for their tactics.

The truth? The Peninsula Schools District’s current bond is expiring this year. The proposed bond will replace the previous expiring bond next year, and our local school tax rate will actually decrease by 3 cents from the 2018 rate. Simply put, if you vote yes, the local school tax rate will still go down.

Bonds are proven to be the best way to build schools. Like a mortgage, bond funds are available up front at a lower rate because payments are spread out over time to current and future taxpayers. This keeps the tax rate low.

We can’t afford to wait. We’re already experiencing an overcrowding crisis. One-third of all our elementary students are being taught in portables, and enrollment continues to grow every year. This bond will enable our district to build two new schools, rebuild and expand two existing schools and repair critical infrastructure. Most importantly, by adding 77 new classrooms, it addresses our greatest need: space for students to learn.

Please support this bond. Your yes vote now couldn’t matter more.

This transcript taken from the original letter published in the Peninsula Gateway on January 24th, 2019