For the past few weeks, this page has been dominated by the single issue that will be on the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula-area special election ballots on Feb. 14. The Peninsula School District is asking voters to renew its expiring three-year maintenance and operations levy, and some of the arguments have been made on our pages and electronic media. It’s a good discussion to have.

We feel our role is best served as a moderator of the debate, both in print and online, and for the first time in a few election cycles, we’re seeing more sides of the story.

We endorsed the levy a few weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean we won’t print the other side. In fact, it’s our responsibility to seek multiple sources who have multiple viewpoints — on every issue, not just this one. It’s especially important when it involves taxpayer money.

Often, it’s difficult for voters who receive campaign materials to fully understand the pros and cons if they are only relying on one source a few minutes before they mark their ballot. We’re journalists, and often procrastinators, so we know how it works.

We received surprise reaction last week when we published a viewpoint from a more conservative perspective. Frankly, we’re glad it was shared, because it’s continued the discussion.

The facts are these:

• The school district is asking for a four-year levy to replace the existing one. In addition, the state has allowed a 4 percent levy lid lift, and the district is asking voters to approve that increase. If it's approved, the district would be able to collect that additional 4 percent in state and federal revenues, from 24.9 percent to 28.9 percent.

• The local levy currently provides about 22 percent of the district’s overall budget. Sixty-nine percent comes from the state. Deputy Superintendent Chuck Cuzzetto said additional funds would increase the local levy's percentage of the district's overall budget, but it would still remain at about 22 percent.

• The levy amounts won’t fluctuate each year, but individual tax rates will, depending on property values as assessed by the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s office. The total levy amounts that would be collected are $19,959,160 in 2013, $21,140,463 in 2014, $22,569,083 in 2015 and $23,321,982 in 2016.

Concerns are valid, too.

• It’s not simply a replacement of current collections. If the levy is approved, tax rates would go up. Projected rates per $1,000 of assessed property value for the next four years are $2.14, $2.27, $2.38 and $2.34.

• Economic conditions, including an expected increase in Narrows Bridge tolls, make it a difficult time to ask for an increase.

• The Supreme Court’s decision in McCleary v. State last month made it clear that the state Legislature isn’t doing enough to fund basic education, our “paramount duty,” according to the state constitution. Changes will be coming, but how widespread and when they’re enacted have yet to be determined.

We welcome these viewpoints, and others, to help inform voters in the most well-rounded way possible prior to the election. And since we won’t have enough space for all of your submissions, look for more of them online prior to Feb. 14.

 

Editor's note: The online version of this editorial has been corrected. In print, it was indicated that the local levy's portion of the school district's overall budget would increase from 22 percent to 28.9 percent. The local levy would bring in more money, but the overall contribution would stay at about 22 percent of the district's overall budget. The 28.9 percent figure would be additional revenue collection — a 4 percent increase, rather than the previously stated 5 percent increase — from the state and federal governments.