Monthly costs for the school bond

According to county assessor figures, on Orcas, roughly 19% of our properties fall in the less than $250k assessed range and account for 4% of our School bond tax; there are 6% of properties that fall in the over $1M range that account for 19% of the bond tax. 45% of our properties belong to owners who have off-island addresses. Eligible seniors and the disabled community can get relief from their property tax, and only need apply.

August 2, 2010 1:07 pm

Understanding the logistics of the school bond has been a challenge for me. My job as a librarian means that I have to do the research and check the facts.

Here are the facts. For a property that has been assessed at $250,000, it will cost approximately $11 a month to pay for the bond; for a $500,000 property it will cost approximately $23 a month; for a $750,000 property it will cost approximately $34 a month; for a $1 million property it will cost approximately $45 a month. 

According to county assessor figures, on Orcas, roughly 19% of our properties fall in the less than $250k assessed range and account for 4% of our School bond tax; there are 6% of properties that fall in the over $1M range that account for 19% of the bond tax. 45% of our properties belong to owners who have off-island addresses. Eligible seniors and the disabled community can get relief from their property tax, and only need apply.

Here on Orcas Island, we will pay an estimated rate for this bond of 54 cents per thousand property value. The rest of communities in Washington pay an average of 95 cents.  

The real bottom line here is that every community in America has the responsibility to build and maintain safe schools. We do not want our School to face some of the really terrible consequences of the economy that are being faced on the mainland, including closure and gutting of programs and services like bus transportation and cafeteria. Our children have nowhere else to attend school but here. It is our duty to provide that. Orcas Island has a low tax rate, and will continue to do so even with this bond passage. 

Our children on Orcas deserve a safe and effective campus, and the School IS the heart of our community. Everything we do to ensure a good education in a healthy environment will enrich all of us as residents of our beautiful Island for years to come. My family was drawn here by the high quality school system. Many others are too. Please join me in voting a hearty YES! for Orcas Schools now.

Maria Doss

Orcas Island School Librarian