Argument Against Evergreen School District $100,000,000 Bond Issue: Measure M

 

In 1997, voters approved Evergreen School District's $60 million bond issue for “construction & improvements.”

Then, just 8 years ago, voters approved another $150 million to “construct new schools” and “upgrade facilities.” 

Today, student enrollment is dropping, yet the District wants another $100 million to “construct classroom(s).”  

What is Evergreen School District really saying?

 When school boards ask our permission to go into debt with bond measures like these, they’re admitting that what they’re spending our tax dollars on, now, is more important than the projects in this ballot measure.  Budgets reflect priorities.  Evergreen School District is saying that every educational dollar spent today is going to something they consider a higher priority than to “provide a safe, modern learning environment” and replace “aging roofs.”

Do you agree?

They have already been entrusted with $210 million to upgrade facilities, and now they want another $100 million (saddling us with another 25-30 years of interest!)…to do the same thing all over again.

Meanwhile, student enrollment keeps dropping.

Are school buildings constructed so poorly that they need new roofs every 8 years?

School bonds are like home mortgages, in that they have to be paid back, in full, plus interest.  Lots of interest. These are tax dollars that won’t go to teachers, library books, computers, or maintenance. Interest payments go to lenders.

A 3% interest rate on $100,000,000 means paying $3,000,000 per yearundefinedevery year for 25-30 years.  Total cost = $175,000,000 (principal + interest)undefinedand that’s if it runs only 25 years.

Making big payments to lenders, for more than two decadesundefinedis that the best use of our local tax dollars?

If you answer “no,” please vote NO on Measure M.

Like us, you can be for schools, for students, for teachers, but against Measure M.


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