The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-06-27
POSSIBLE TO
EARN THE TAX
ASSESSMENT
Labor Costs on New School,
will More Than Equal the
Tota of Levy on People of
District ...@... =ga2

TOta or Levy on feople VI
District ..s. ri H.
After making survey of the dis
tr,ct it is felt that the election II
held now would fail due chiefly TO
lack of obtaining information. Citi-
zens who are interested In this
proposition, either for or against,
should make 1t their self-appointed
d,,ty. representing no one except
themselves as an interested citizen,
IN oct the information and see that
everyone is enlightened on the pos
sibilities, says statement by the
beard today.
we do not believe that there Is
any question in any patrons mind
b,1t what there is a real need for
more school space and safer school
buildings at this time. 1t is a fact
that the coming year will require
two or three rooms to be placed out
side of the school buildings, and II
anyone questions the safety, all that
is asked is that they should visit
the washington building and go
into the fire hazards Thoroughly
that it presents and its Wornout
condition.
Let's suppose that the people
turn the proposition down at this
election, what will be the results?
II will mean that two or three
rooms will be placed outside OF the
present school buildings in places
that are not very acceptable for
school uses. IF the increase in pop
ulation continues to grow it viii
mean more rooms outside. BY oil
viding our school all over town, it
means an inefficient school system,
greater operation costs, which prob
ably in a period of 20 years would
amount to as much as the new
building costs at this time, and at
the end of 20 years we would still
have nothing but so many inef-
ficient units, and we would have ac-
cepted all of the difficulties and
hazards that such an inefficient
set-up would present. IF we accept
the challenge of the proposition at
this time at the end of 20 years We
win have paid out no more money
and will be able to enjoy the addi-
tionaI facilities and at the end Of
that time will have our building and
have it paid for.
Could Earn Cost
The question of it being a hard
ship to pay for 1t in one year. 1t Is
no question but what 1t would mean
q decided effort and sacrifice on
the part of each taxpayer in the
community to meet this challenge,
but II it Is at all possible to do that
1t certainly bears an advantage from
the business standpoint over the
bonds, due to the fact that we pay
back slightly more than what we
borrowed, while by the bond method
over q period of 20 years, we pay
back 1853 percent. Referring back to
the statement of the project which
dicuSseS the way in which you could
pay for it In two inStallments, would
make 1t somewhat easier on each
individual. Suppose some individ-
ual has not the money to meet his
taxes at this time, If we have such
individual in the district, would
say that if he got his name in early
for employment that we could find
a way for him to earn as much or
possibly more than the amount of
his taxes in labor on the project, as
under PWA contracts local quail
fed labor must be exhausted before
We can go outside of the district
for more labor.
The question of a smaller unit at
this time we believe is inadvisable
bacause most patrons recognize that
the present set-up is not adequate,
and If we confine ourselves to a
lew additional rooms as the neces-
Sity presents itself, the cost of such
developed program in the end is
much higher and much more inef-
ncient. We are also confronted with
Inc proposition that the state is Civ
ing approximately IS percent of the
operation cost to the district and
We do have to conform to their re-
quirements.
Raise Property Value
The new building will enhance
the value of the average taxpayers
property more than the money spent
N taxes for such an improvement.
what should be more the center of
pride in community than their
educational institution. Some s45.-
oVo or more would be spent In labor
"a this community this winter on
sucn project. which is more money
man the people who receive the
oeneiits have to raise in taxes.
some Of the patrons will recall
mat three or four years ago, due to
sa oversight Of the county commits
aoners, bonds against the district
we're allowed to go delinquent for
solne time and the directors were
.orced to place 26-mill levy on
sne district In one year. This came
tplooaoiy at the worst time during
ue depression, but in some way was
ss Ior and Is now forgotten
sp LOU. This levy at that time prob
ny meant as much money to each
o,Wdual as a 40-mill lew would
- nus time due to the reductions in
aa uations since that time. It will
a,so ne recalled that the majority
aae money went for accumulated
principle. ~ '''''i
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