Taxes won’t increase for Quilcene School bond | Letter to the editor

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The Quilcene school board proposed a bond to replace the elementary school, fix the athletic field, and add a student shop. 

Residents now pay $1.74 per $1,000 assessed valuation. If the bond passes it will replace the current levy at exactly the same rate. No tax increase.

The Quilcene Elementary School building was built in the 1950s, before television. Its electrical system can’t handle computers or electronics, it’s seismically inadequate, the ancient heating system can’t keep it warm enough for classes during freezing weather, and the roof leaks. It’s given us many good years but now it needs replacing. We owe it to the children to provide a safe building that encourages learning.

Just like a 1950 car, it would cost more to repair than replace.

The athletic field is the worst in the league. We have to rent a field for our league home games for safety.

We don’t have a shop class so the students who want any practical education are bussed to Bremerton, wasting two hours out of the day in travel.

Some people are concerned that there isn’t a design they can critique before the vote, but the district can’t spend money on designers until the bond passes. The bond amount is an estimate from a company that builds schools. It’s based on number of students and what Quilcene can afford. We won’t get a magnificent edifice like Mercer Island, but we’ll get a better school we can afford.

The longer we wait, the more it will cost, and more than 7 percent inflation. That 7 percent is an average of everything we buy.

Some parts of that basket are bigger. The Seattle construction cost index rose 20 percent last year because of the building boom. Lumber costs increased 142 percent. Waiting will be expensive.

Tom Brotherton
QUILCENE