Our Readers’ Views, Feb. 5

Payment modernization supported

As Clark County treasurer, I want to point out some clarifications of the Jan. 30 Cheers & Jeers, specifically the cheer for state Rep. Tim Probst, D-Vancouver. (Probst deserves the cheer for being willing to sponsor House Bill 2962 legislation).

First, the county treasurer, not the county auditor, is responsible for the collection of property taxes.

Second, there is a minority in the Washington State Association of County Treasurers that supports the legislation. The legislation is optional for a treasurer to implement, however it will require additional software programming and labor costs to administer the electronic collection of the property taxes. There is a provision in the legislation for treasurers to recover their costs.

I believe the comment by the WSACT representative about escrow services was a tactic to try to kill the bill. There is nothing in the legislation that would prohibit any business from having a tax collection escrow business.

We have asked banks for years to do this and the response back has been that it is not cost effective or that it is not part of their business mission.

I strongly support the amended version of the legislation.

There’s also a companion Senate Bill 6768 sponsored by Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver. If you have any questions, call me at 360-397-2255 or 360-921-5855.

Doug Lasher

Vancouver

Fanaticism mistaken as enthusiasm

A Jan. 31 Columbian story, “Hopelessly devoted,” featured Kelly Ritter, a Washington State University alum and fan. A teacher who is hanging a stuffed husky by a noose in her classroom to proclaim her allegiance to her alma mater is a fan? Sounds more like a fanatic to me. Poor sportsmanship is not funny, it’s just plain boorish … and it’s from a schoolteacher, no less.

Where’s her administrator? Stick to the banners, flags and sweatshirts and leave the nooses at home.

Michelle Swan-Seekins

Camas

Cut government, not schools

I just finished my 2009 tax returns on the same day I received ballots for a levy tax in school budgets. Do not be fooled by the wording on the ballot, they may be keeping the same percent in increases, but we will still could be paying more out-of-pocket every year for the next three years. Not surprisingly, I paid more in property taxes this year than last year, and more last year than the year before. This in spite of the fact that my property value has decreased by about 25 percent in the same time period, and our income remains flat.

Why is it that every time there is a recession, our schools, prisons and law enforcement personnel are first to be cut? How about this novel idea — cut government political positions by 25 percent. Do we need as many county and city commissioners? Can we do with fewer people in Olympia? Would this not eliminate bloated budgets and staff members who get paid more than teachers and prison guards?

Taking this stance on school levies is the only choice given, but I’d rather vote for less money going to the political class.

Bob Edmunson

Vancouver

Invest in education

Another levy awaits our verdict. Do we turn our backs, vote “no” on kids and demand accountability, or do we vote “yes,” invest in informed citizens and still demand accountability?

I prefer the latter. Yes, we’re in a deep, dark recession. Property values have tanked. But, let’s not take it out on schools. We should expect quality public schools, not by divesting, but by investing dollars and time, and like any investment, monitoring performance. Not by testing kids to death, but by visiting schools, talking with teachers, working with kids at home, asking questions and demanding quality.

Retired or not, get involved. Spend a day or two at your local school. You’ll find most teachers and administrators work just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else trying to keep up with the swings of society. Sure the benefits are good. So are the responsibilities. Most people wouldn’t last longer than one day with 25 first graders tugging on their sleeves or dozens of teens with digital dreams trying to ignore them.

Invest in schools, vote “yes,” get involved and demand quality.

Rich Stever

Vancouver

Schools need levy funding

Tom Ramisch’s Jan. 28 letter, “Evergreen levy should be opposed,” mischaracterizes the levy taxation process. Tax rates go up when property values go down; total money collected remains roughly the same. That’s hardly jargon. And schools really do “live with less during this economy” already, because the state has sent less from the general fund. This year, for Evergreen Public Schools, about $11 million less. It would be just as incorrect to suppose that you’d actually see “more of your money.” A renter will continue to pay the same amount of rent, only instead of funding schools with part of the rent, the landlord will use that money. A homeowner, likewise, will find that the mortgage payment does not go down immediately; banks are certain to wait as long as legally possible, perhaps even up to a year, before they adjust escrow payment amounts. Voting “yes” on the levies ensures that money will continue to go to schools.

Rob Perkins

Vancouver

Special election has flaws

Evergreen Public Schools recently sent out a flier encouraging voters to “study the facts” about the replacement levy to be voted on Feb.9. How disingenuous can you get? By running this on a special election, they avoid any challengers via a voter’s handbook and avoid any dissenting voice. It is just plain dumb for anyone to vote affirmative in a special election on any issue.

Yard signs tell you to do it for the kids; how about being smart for the kids? Vote “no” until such time as the district wants to be honest with you.

Doug Kugler

Vancouver

Get America back to work

I am an unemployed laborer with Laborers’ International Union of North America’s Local 296. Congress can help by passing a bill that could put hundreds of thousands of construction workers back to work by investing in highways and transportation; investing in state projects; investing in school building construction.

Instead of bailing out banks, Congress should bail out America so that America can get back to work. Construction jobs help those who often hurt the most and put paychecks in workers’ pockets, which quickly spread throughout the local economy.

Congress needs to act now.

Robert Burmood Jr.

Vancouver