I agree our schools make Gig Harbor a great place to live. Families buy homes here because of our schools. Last year’s $78 million capital bond failed because many felt it was too much money to ask for during a recession. The present levy request may be in jeopardy of passing for the same reason.

I recently asked the school board to pull the levy off the ballot at this time, resubmit for a vote during a future election in August or November, and at the present levy rate of $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed value and not raise the levy lid.

It’s important for the school board to know what many voters in the district are saying, even if they are reluctant to speak up at public meetings.

* This is not a true continuing levy. It’s a tax increase. Voters are concerned that the school district is using the recently authorized increase in the levy cap to raise the levy amounts, thus increasing taxes.

Since 2003, the levy amount has increased 90 percent, and the levy amount increase between 2012 and 2013 will be more than 10 percent. The new levy rate of approximately $2.14 per $1,000 for 2012-13 is a 60 percent increase from today’s rate.

Voters who do the math feel these increases are unsustainable into the future.

Levy amount increases exceed the average rate of inflation. Salaries and benefits are driving much of these costs, and the new levy adds more staff members. A better idea would be to restore pay cuts to the existing teachers, then look at staff increases.

The Peninsula Metropolitan Parks District’s Board of Commissioners did not raise its levy amount or rate because of the recession. They know people are hurting, and a recession is not the time to raise taxes.

* Disgruntled parents are upset with a schedule of late starts and half-days. These schedules make it hectic and more expensive for parents to manage child care.

Unhappy parents may find it hard to support the levy. Parents want time put back on the school’s clock first.

* The school board should not run the levy while the state Legislature is in session. Political churn in Olympia and the recent state Supreme Court ruling dominate the headlines. Legislative leaders are floating ideas to change the local levy process, and some suggest we take a wait-and-see approach before they approve a new four-year levy.

The daily debates on sales tax, gas tax, oil company tax, fee increases, toll increases, and fees to fund WSDOT are all working through the legislative process. Locally, we just approved an increase in sales tax and face county tax/fee increases for flood and surface water management. With news like this, Peninsula School District voters may find it hard to be generous again. Many residents will pause before they mark their ballot. Those on a fixed income are very concerned about tax increases at this time.

* When I learned the superintendent did not have a backup plan in case the levy fails, I feared the school district’s reaction would overly affect the quality of our schools. Innovative and bold cost-savings reforms are not ready to be put into place.

Budget cuts, properly managed, do not always have to result in larger class sizes and cutting sports. The fact that no contingency plan exists for how to manage the budget if the levy is not approved is poor planning.

We elected good people for the school board, and they have invested more than $100,000 just in running the levy alone.

Residents need to vote, and if the levy doesn’t pass, we will all need to provide the board with ideas on how to best manage budget adjustments.

Remember, not voting is the same as a “yes” vote.

Jerry Gibbs lives in Gig Harbor.