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Statement For · Melanie Reynolds
statement likely human Committee: Future Focused For Nine Mile
The Nine Mile Falls School District asks for your support of a Capital Levy to address essential safety, security, and facility needs. Approval of this measure will maintain the current local tax rate by replacing a Bond, which expires January 1, 2027, with a new six-year Capital Levy at the same rate as the expiring Bond of $0.38 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
After listening to community concerns about rising taxes, the School Board prioritized only the district’s most critical facility needs and removed several previously proposed projects. At Lakeside High School, several essential building systems have reached the end of their useful life. This levy will replace the failed roof and replace two essential condemned portable classrooms ensuring students have a safe and functional learning space while protecting district facilities from further damage.
Student safety continues to be a major priority. This levy will update the high school’s fire alarm system as well as update the video surveillance system, ensuring compliance with the required safety laws for Washington State Public Schools. This will strengthen our emergency response, improve campus security and add to the protection of students and staff. Any remaining funds will be used for HVAC improvements including adding controls which will upgrade the equipment to improve efficiency, reliability, and long-term operating costs.
This Capital Levy protects students, preserves community assets, and responsibly invests taxpayer dollars while maintaining the current tax rate. Please vote Yes on Proposition No. 2.
Rebuttal of argument against
This revised proposition reflects community feedback by removing projects and focusing on critical safety and facility needs. It replaces an expiring bond at the same tax rate. Not carte blanche, funds target a failed roof, condemned classrooms, fire and security systems. Running a proposition isn’t free. OSPI data shows NMFSD revenue per student is 8.2% below statewide average. Community median income and district revenue are different measurements. Our schools need updates. Vote yes.
Statement Against · NO Means NO! Voters Said NO Just 90 Days Ago!
statement appears human Committee: NO Means NO! Voters Said NO Just 90 Days Ago!
The Voters said No only 90 days before this Proposal was submitted!
Don’t be fooled; this proposal was written last year as a contingency to taxpayers’ No vote just 90 days ago! Your tax dollars paid for those expensive lawyers! Since this was drafted late last year, it is unconscionable that NMFSD submitted it as late as possible, deliberately timed to prevent this dissenting viewpoint. Coincidence? No. It was intentional.
Read the Proposition carefully!
NMFSD is requesting an Excess Tax Levy for the next six years, versus five years 90 days ago. This version is far more vague about “projects” but includes the same legalese, permitting NMFSD carte blanche to spend any way it wants.
Taxpayers have paid plenty.
Out of 294 Washington School Districts, NMFSD is 50th in income, but 235th in dollars/student! If not to students, or infrastructure, where has the money gone? (Rebuttal will try to confuse you with mention of per-student State funding, versus per-$1,000 taxation)
Vote No! No Means No!
NMFSD already committed $40,000 taxpayer dollars (Lawyers, Staff, flyers, posters, mailers, and the ballot measure itself) and was told No. Now, 90 days later, it is rinse and repeat, spending more taxpayer dollars! (Rebuttal will try to downplay these taxpayer costs) Disturbingly, the Proposal budgets for recovering these sunk costs, meaning NMFSD wants taxpayers to pay its gambling debt – again. “Government does not tax to get the money it needs; government always finds a need for the money it gets.” Ronald Reagan
Rebuttal of argument for
Read the Proposition carefully! They haven’t “prioritized” or “removed” anything. As written, NMFSD can use funds for “projects,” and they say, “...remaining funds will be used for...” It can be any “project.” NMFSD has operated without condemned portables for over two years; therefore, not “essential.”
You’re already paying! 25.5% of property taxes go to Washington Schools. NMFSD has spent more effort to get into our wallets, than in demanding the State pay for unfunded requirements.