Rebekah & I are voting “NO” on the Orcas school Bond issue. This call for a mandated (mandatory tax) capital improvement when other options have not been seriously pursued or even explored seriously seems very unwise and even irresponsible to our small community.

We are in very challenging, tough economic times on a national, state, county, and local Orcas levels. These trying times run literally from the individual to the global marketplace. This is an undeniable fact. Simple common sense tells us this is not the time for such a huge commitment, a 25 year commitment of much higher taxes for every property owner on Orcas, especially every home owner on Orcas.

A “NO” vote is in fact a “Support” vote for our children on Orcas in the larger and more important picture, the fiscal or economic responsibility picture. We are, as always, an example for our children. And as most everyone knows, children will tend to mimic what they see us do, and not so much what we tell them to do (our actions being to the contrary). If we say “be responsible” but our actions are not responsible, then the irresponsibility message is the one that rings loud and clear to watchful eyes. We know this is true, right?

This is a time to show the example of mature and caring restraint. This is an opportunity to show our children how we can be creative with, and fair to, all Orcas residents, full time and part time. Several very talented and generous trades people would offer to commit resources to rehabilitate our island public school.

If invited and supported, other past and present island benefactors (some preferring anonymity) would rise to the occasion here like with the Skate Park, Turtleback Mountain Park, the Community and Medical centers, and much more. THIS is what is needed right now. A call for our more financially gifted and capable individuals, foundations, and companies to help once again. They will do this out of love and generosity to the extent they are able. This is NOT a time to create another FORCED TAX upon many who really cannot afford it. That is not the way.

Let’s rally together as Orcas residents know how to do. That will be a valuable gift to our children far beyond a simple building. Let’s do the right thing here and vote “NO”. Let’s do the right thing here and improve the conditions at the school according to what we can pay for. We can make our own miracle right now, together, as a real gift TO our children, and not a real tax ON our children.

Be well,

David Selwyn