Check your property tax bill.
Here is mine.
In 2017, I paid about $1,000 in local school tax.
In 2018, I paid $1,033.20.
In 2019, it fell by almost half: $535.33.
This is the lowest local school tax rate in our history.
The Port Angeles School District did this on purpose, because they knew they would have to make painful cuts to prepare for the vast amount of facilities remodeling needed in the coming decades.
I think that shows both frugality and responsible leadership.
Did the state increase school taxes at the same time?
Yes, but not nearly as much as the cuts our district made.
So I’m still paying less for schools than I have in years.
In fact, the cuts our district made are so large that most of us are paying less total property tax in recent years.
These are facts.
Our district has been responsible.
Our maintenance crews will have coaxed almost 65 years out of the original systems and structures at the middle school before they modernize.
Our high school will be closer to 90 years old when we get to it.
I also know that my tax dollars will go towards hiring local kids in local trades to do local work on buildings that benefit us all.
My kids won’t benefit from what this will cost me.
But I’m hoping it makes them want to raise my grandkids here.
Steve Methner
Port Angeles
Methner is the co-chair of Port Angeles Citizens for Education.