The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Dear Editor,

I support the REPLACEMENT M & O Levy AND the Capital Projects & REPLACEMENT Technology Levy, and I urge the voters of Dayton School District to support them as well. My support is based on facts, and continuing to do what is best for all students in our district. Below are the facts and reasons to help clarify my support, and why we need you to support these levies:

A YES vote for both levies will only increase your school tax value (currently 11¢/$1,000 in 2015) by 50¢ the first collection year, and by an estimated 52¢ the second collection year/$1,000. It will then drop back down to 11¢ for the next two years.

SAFETY for our students and staff is a top priority. Saving energy costs is also a priority. Both SAFETY and saving energy costs will benefit all of our students.

A fact you may not realize—when the district asks for funding to replace a roof, outside doors, a 1958 communication system; or to add underground irrigation at the athletic complex, or additional security cameras, these tasks won’t be completed immediately. The district HAS to wait until taxes are collected in October and April EACH YEAR. So, when you drive by the school—AFTER THE LEVIES HAVE BEEN APPROVED, and it looks like nothing you voted for has happened yet, you’re probably right! The district has been, and will continue to be, a steward of your funds by not borrowing ahead of collecting those taxes to begin any projects.

At a community wide meeting, you strongly urged the District to keep Capital Projects right around $800,000. The six projects are estimated to come in $75,000 below that amount.

Over 77% of you approved of me running for the School Board. I also hope that over 77% of you will vote YES for BOTH levies. Voting YES IS A VOTE FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS. A negative vote for any reason (you don’t like a staff member, you don’t have children in the school system) is really a vote against STUDENTS, not against anything else. Our students and staff deserve to have the best technology, the most current safety features, and a sports facility that can be used by all of us as well as all students.

I urge you to VOTE YES FOR BOTH LEVIES.

Katie Leid

Dayton