Invest in future; extend school levy
Ridgefield School District’s proposed property tax levy is not a new tax but replaces an existing levy that expires this year. Public education funding in Washington state relies heavily on local taxes. In Ridgefield, the local levy funds roughly 24 percent of total education costs. Approving the proposed levy will simply continue this local funding.
Local levy funds currently pay for programs critical to student success. Examples include classroom computers, athletics, drama, CISPUS, para-educators, teacher training and basic needs such as maintenance, transportation, utilities and textbooks.
The Ridgefield School District provides a high-quality education at a relatively low cost. Ridgefield students’ scores on standardized tests regularly exceed state averages and rank high compared to other Clark County schools. And the district’s levy rate is expected to be significantly lower than the rate in Evergreen, Vancouver, Battle Ground, La Center, Camas and Washougal school districts. Ridgefield School District delivers small community schools with great results at a reasonable cost. Please join me in supporting the Ridgefield School District levy on Feb. 9.
Paul Lewis
RIDGEFIELD
Retirees should not pay for schools
Here we go again—time for school levies. The schools need more money.
My home has been devalued, as well as my families’ and friends’ homes. Isn’t it funny how many of our property taxes did not change? There’s something about that that has a definite foul odor. Over a third of my property tax is allocated to the schools, and that includes yours, too.