I would like to urge the citizens of Douglas County who are eligible to vote in this upcoming election to consider a "yes" vote on the Douglas County School District bond question. I encourage you to read the arguments in support and against this ballot measure found in your sample ballot.
The concern of all bond measures is always the tax implications of approval or defeat of the measure. The irony of this measure is that there are no tax implications; if passed by the voters, there will be no increase on your property taxes. Conversely, a "no" vote will not reduce your property tax bill.
My "yes" vote is based on four criteria that have not been discussed in the literature presented, and my letter is based on conversations with citizens expressing confusion on the issue.
1. The approval of the bond will categorize the available dollars for capital improvement only. Nevada state government provides no funds to school districts for capital improvements. The school districts in Nevada must raise money for capital improvement leaving bonds as the primary source. Coming to Douglas County in 1977, I watched school enrollment go from 535 students on four grades at Douglas High School to 1,500 students in three grades in the 2007-08 school year.
There are two factors that could contribute to another increase in students in Douglas County in the future; the continued decline of housing prices may stimulate the potential of younger people with school age children to come back into the home market once the economy starts to recover, and if "school choice" becomes part of future educational reform, student populations could vary quickly.
I have watched the schools wrestle with increased student populations for 30 years; it seems negligent to be unable to give all students in the school age population a quality education.
2. Preemptive planning for education in the future.
Every election cycle, I hear politicians speak about their desire to increase the quality of education, and citizens demand that politicians do something once they are in office. However, education is a very popular issue to speak of during the political process, but once the governance cycle begins, supporting those political claims of commitment go back on the shelf until the next political cycle. When it comes to capital improvements, Douglas County schools have been incredibly lucky with the philanthropic attitude of Big George Ventures; however the citizens of this county can't always think that one individual will come along to provide the type of learning environments to succeed. The realization of our students entering a global labor force make preemptive planning essential for our students. In 30 years in Carson Valley, most of the large capital improvement projects have been reactions to an event or need making students pay the price of accommodations until the situation could be remedied.
3. There is a direct correlation between learning and the comfort of the physical environment. Infrastructure needs are an important part of the education formula. Unforeseen circumstances will always be part of our lives. Having a relative and evacuee from Galveston currently living with me and my wife has reminded me of how instantaneous our lives can be changed. Schools aren't able to close for long durations of time once the school year has begun.
4. The upcoming budget crisis of the economic downturn has educated individuals about the direct effects on their families. The next phase will be the realization of the cumulative effect on tax revenues and the difficult choices ahead for the upcoming legislative session beginning in February 2009. This bond will not solve all the future financial difficulties the school district will face, but it will help the school district minimize the financial impact on student learning.
Again, I urge a yes vote on the Douglas County School District's Continuation Bond Initiative.
- Randy Green is a Gardnerville resident, former government teacher and school board member-elect.
