Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor | Property taxes, schools and test scores

This is a follow up to my earlier Letter to the Editor regarding HB1334 which proposes to raise the maximum annual increase in property taxes from 1% to 3% and would also make it easier to reach the 3% maximum.

As I stated in my first letter, Representative Pollet (who apparently has never seen a fee or tax increase he doesn’t like as his name pops up in a lot bills going through Olympia right now), claims that the 1% limit is choking off and kneecapping local school districts. I’ve done some teaching myself (adult school, undergraduate classes, law school, and graduate law school) and I have nothing, but great respect for those who dedicate their lives to educating our children. They are heroes.

My sole purpose here is to look at the truthfulness of Representative Pollet’s claims.  Let’s start with Washington spending on teachers’ salaries: No. 3 in the nation for starting salaries ($55,631) and No. 4 in the nation for average teacher salaries ($86,804). It seems that we are paying our teachers very well in comparison to other states.  I’m pleased with that, but does this statistic back up Rep. Pollet’s claim? I’ll you decide.

Now, let’s see how Washington compares to other states on spending per student ($19,427). Hmmm … No. 15 in the nation sounds pretty good to me. We’re certainly not lagging with this parameter either. Do you see any kneecapping or choking off?

Here’s a very telling graph. The red line is enrollment in Washington public schools and the green line is spending per student.  The large drop in enrollment came during COVID, but the slow recovery is indicative of something don’t you think?  I wonder what that could be?  Choked off?  Kneecapped?

The increase in spending per student is attributable to two factors.  First, the drop in enrollment is certainly one.  If spending was held constant, this drop would automatically increase the dollar spent per student.  The other component would be an increase in overall spending.  So, let’s look at that:

It would appear that, from 2013-15 to 2021-2023, spending on public schools was increasing annually.  The percentage increases for the first five two year periods all exceeded 1% contrary to Rep. Pollet’s assertions.  The drop in 2023-2025 is, at least partially, attributable to the drop in student enrollment.  It appears, however, that the folks in Olympia are planning on a huge increase of more than 43% for 2025-2027.

Now, let’s look at staffing for our public schools.  Have the cutbacks Rep. Pollet asserted actually occurred?  There was a reduction in public school staffing in 2023-2025, again reflective of the declining enrollment and the impact of COVID.

So far, we’ve looked at teacher pay, we’ve looked at enrollment, and we’ve looked at spending both per student and in total.  We’ve also looked at staffing.  The only item left to look at is our schools’ performance.  What are we getting for our tax dollars?  Here are the current performance statistics:

Note:  “ELA” is English Language Arts.

Let’s take a closer look at Peninsula School District’s spending on staff:

*One of these is partially subsidized but I don’t know how much

This is where I have to say:  I’m all for funding our schools and educating our children.  However, I would like to see any additional funding going towards education be conditioned on improvement in the performance of our schools.  That and our safety are my top two priorities.  When it comes to schools, I would absolutely support a funding bill that meets the following criteria:

• The funding does not increase the cost of homeownership or the cost of renting
• The funding is not regressive in nature (like the sales tax and gas tax)
• The true intent of and the impact of the bill is fully and honestly explained to the voters
• The vast majority of the spending reaches inside the classroom
• Gets the state mandates out of the way
• And, this is my critical point: It’s tied to increasing the performance percentages shown above.

HB 1334 is based on false statements regarding layoffs, cuts, kneecapping, and choking with respect to budgets and does not meet any of my six requirements.  If you want me to pay more, then justify it by showing me how our schools’ performance numbers have gotten better.  I would need to see performance improvements BEFORE additional funding.  Prove to me you’re doing the job for our kids, and I will support you.  Two final points:

• I’ve been told by a few that our schools’ performance figures are due, in large part, to mandates from Olympia on what must be taught and how it must be taught—remove these and let good teachers teach!
• Successful teachers are worth every penny they make

Craig McLaughlin

Fox Island