On Feb. 10, our Sequim community will face a huge decision that will significantly affect the future of our community and the children and families living here.
I will vote “yes” for the much needed Sequim School District facility bond for the following reasons:
• Our community needs to recruit and retain physicians and other health care professionals. There is a significant shortage of physicians both nationally and locally, and rural areas in the U.S. have 20 percent of the population but only 10 percent of the physicians.
In my role as CEO, I work on recruiting physicians every week. When talking to physicians considering moving to Sequim, the
No. 1 question that I get is, “What is the quality of the local schools?” Physicians with families often decide where to live and practice based on the quality of local schools. By passing this bond, Sequim school facilities will become a positive force for recruiting and retaining physicians and other health care professionals.
The quality of our local health care system is directly connected to the quality of our schools. You can impact the availability of quality physicians locally by voting YES for the school construction bond.
• Our 2,700 children need the best education we can give them. To maximize the education we offer our children, facilities and technology are critical. Up-to-date science labs, significantly improved elementary schools and many other facility improvements better position students and teachers to excel. The promise of the U.S. always has been that each generation sacrifices for the next generation so they may have greater opportunities.
The “American Dream” is under intense pressure and today’s children need an excellent education to keep this country moving forward. Sequim children can’t vote but we certainly can give them the best opportunity to succeed.
• Sadly, Sequim schools are falling apart. The facility bond will address some of the most significant problems. Our school board listened to our community and revised the Facility Plan to address the highest priorities, while keeping the cost of the bond affordable for our taxpayers.
Thankfully, due to extremely low interest rates, it will never be cheaper to fund these much needed improvements. Low interest rates may come to an end. Inflation will make construction costs go up if we further defer this work.
Kicking the can down the road is not in the best interest of taxpayers. In addition, the bond proposal takes advantage of $4.3 million of state matching funds which may not be available in the future.
• If this bond passes, the total property tax supporting our local schools will be $2.23 per $1,000 in 2016, which is lower than the rate in 2013 of $2.30. It is way below the average of all other school districts across the state, which is $4.44 per $1,000.
In 2013, local school taxes included $1.57 for an Educational Programs and Operation Levy and 73 cents for the 1996 bond to pay for the new middle school. If the levy passes, in 2016 local school taxes will include $1.60 for an Educational Programs and Operation Levy and .63 cents for this facilities bond.
Therefore, if the bond passes, we will have a lower property tax rate to support our local school district in 2016 than we paid in 2013 and get these much needed facility improvements! I think this passes the test of affordability!
My two children are too old to benefit from these new facilities, but I am going to vote for these facilities.
Sequim needs more physicians. Sequim needs to be a place for kids to get an excellent education, and facilities must be improved to meet the demands for classrooms, current technology and security.
Please join me in supporting this bond as we help determine the future direction of our community.
Lewis is CEO of Olympic Medical Center, a Sequim resident and father of Sequim school students.
