Camas Washougal Watch

Since the first weekend in January, yard signs have appeared all over Camas, encouraging motorist to "vote Yes Camas Schools".  Yet, with only three weeks to go before we are asked to vote on a levy to increase our taxes, voters still do not have the details of what is in this Levy. This week, parents found an oversized postcard in their mailboxes - encouraging parents again to vote "yes" for schools - but still no explanation of what or why we should vote yes.

 

Proponents rhetorically state that this is a "replacement" levy, but fail to mention the 8% increase.

According to public records,  Resolution No. 09-072011-2013 of the camas school board approved a Maintenance and Operations Levy to be presented to the voters.

 

Under a narrowly approved Bond a couple of years ago, Camas schools have been going hog wild this past year building new schools, demolishing old ones along with the historic Doc Harris Stadium - all during the Great Recession.  We always suspected the schools would hit us with a levy request to pay for the increased operational expenses to operate these new schools and this new stadium. Bonds only pay to build, not operate.

We did a little digging to try to find out what were the details of this "replacement Levy" since the schools have yet to inform us.  We found the school board resolutions presented by Ina Evers-Martin Administrator for the district.

What caught our attention was the wording that Ina Evers-Martin stated to the school board when she presented the proposal  "a resolution needs to be

approved in order to put a replacement levy on the ballot. The administrator’s recommendation is for a modest increase in the levy over a three-year period to account for a slight growth in enrollment. She expressed that

approval of Resolution No. 09-07 will provide formal approval to place a three-year replacement Maintenance and Operations Levy on the ballot for February 9, 2010. $10,400,000 (to be collected in 2011 at approximately $2.68 per $1,000.00 assessed valuation), $10,700,000 (to be collected in 2012 at approximately $2.63 per $1,000.00 assessed valuation), and $11,000,000 (to be collected in 2013 at approximately $2.57 per $1,000.00 assessed valuation).

 

What isn't discussed is the additional cost to operate all these new schools and new stadium.

It took a bit more research, which wasn't to easy to acquire, but we finally discovered the numbers of what we pay now verses the "modest increase" proposed in the new levy.

 

If approved, this levy will increase your personal property taxes 8%

We currently pay the Camas School District $9,542,309.

If this levy is approved by voters, that modest increase will pay the district 10,400,000.

 

Camas Schools has increased to levy taxes we pay an average of 6-8% each year, so if you vote yes, you are voting for more of the same.

 

Proponents argue that camas schools need the money for teachers. Opponents argue that Camas schools are top heavy with too many administrators and exorbitant salaries at the top, several earning over $100,000/year salaries.

 

Has Camas Schools done all it can to trim administrative costs?

Why is the public being delayed the details of how this levy money will be spent?

Is an 8% tax increase "Modest"?

Is an annual increase of 6-8% acceptable to you as a taxpayer? That's what we've been paying over the last three years; shall we continue the annual increases?

 

With 40% increases in Camas Utility rates during the past 10 months, plus foreclosures, job losses and the great recession, the schools can not afford to blindly assume that voters will just "say yes" merely because they ask.