Guest Column: Voting: It’s your voice

By Tony Aho/for The Herald

In six days, voters will have the opportunity to decide the fate of the proposed replacement levy in Puyallup.

It may be just me but I always seem to cringe as a knee jerk reaction when I hear the words “levy, bond, or tax increase” muttered in audible distance of my presence. And yet, I try to consider each issue on its own merit and what it means for the community.

So, out of curiosity, I conducted a non-scientific survey asking people whether they supported the levy or not and what were their reasons.

First, one respondent said, she supports the levy but believes the state of Washington needs to find a different way of fully funding schools so districts don’t have to have levies. There’s too much of a disparity in schools.

The feeling is mutual among some citizens and district employees who feel that there is a gap between what the state defines as “basic education” as mandated by state law (currently 80 percent of the district’s budget) and what is actually being provided within each district.

Regardless, the district has had to make some difficult choices in 2009 after the state reduced the district’s funding by $13.8 million dollars and potentially another $7 to $8 million in 2010.

In response, the Puyallup School District reduced such vital services as bus transportation, which my child no longer qualifies for, and a voluntary salary freeze for upper administration. The latter has been a common criticism in several local districts that seemed to have gained some ground this year.

Second, after campaigning this year, I’ve heard several of our mature residents express concerns over their tax bill and ever growing gap between actual income relative to imposed taxes. Even as younger resident in Puyallup’s oldest section of town (District 1), I too, share those same concerns. However, I also don’t want to jeopardize our home values, public safety, and potential for economic development.

Third, another respondent pointed out that this is, of course, a replacement operation levy. In fact, it is 3 cents less than the levy approved in 2006.

So, what does that mean in real tangible numbers?

Here’s the breakdown of where some of that money goes, according to a draft in December 2009:

— 100 percent of athletics at $2.2 million

— 100 percent of optional programs (i.e. bus service) at $4.1 million

— 22 percent of classroom and basic education at $17.2 million

— 19 percent of school and student services at $3.2 million

— 13 percent of special education at $2.8 million

Whether you have children in the school system or not I encourage you to think about how the above line items contributed to your school experience and helped shape the person that you are today.

Tony Aho is a Puyallup resident and can be reached at tonyaho@comcast.net.