In the 30 years since I came to Oak Harbor, too much time and money have been spent trying to convince us to vote for ideals. When that failed, the school district and its bond supporters have tried to guilt the rest of us into yes votes with verbal slam-dunks like how “cheap, uncaring and selfish” we are. In actuality, they have yet to give serious consideration to the facts.

When it was recently said that another levy would increase our property taxes by only some amount per thousand, it was also said that those who can’t afford it can get an exemption from their property tax in general. That’s only half true. The exemption is merely taxing at a reduced level, and according to the assessor’s office, in 2002 only 1,459 parcels received these so-called exemptions.

Additionally, there are an approximate 8,000 retirees in Oak Harbor and North Whidbey most of whom live on fixed incomes. Additionally, if they are property owners, they are already paying at least $9.41 per $1,000 assessment. So living on fixed incomes and facing continually rising health care costs, you can bet your sweet bippy that most retirees are going to run the other way when the “T” word is heading down the road again. But that has nothing to do with being cheap and selfish or not caring about children. . .

So quit wasting money asking for things we can’t afford. Ask us for what the children need the most, then make intelligent, informed, realistic decisions about what that is. Then, maybe, when we finish paying for what you wanted the last time, we can fill realistic needs the next time.

Ginny Weeks

Oak Harbor