Mercer Islanders value our excellent schools. They are the heart of our community and why many of us moved here.  The four-year maintenance and operations levy helps keep our schools strong. It is a renewal for one that was overwhelmingly approved by Mercer Island voters in 2010.

Washington State does not fully fund K-12 education. Mercer Island must provide additional local funding to maintain education programs not funded by the state.  The levy renewal is vital. It provides 26 percent of general funding for nearly 100 teachers and staff, educational programs, school supplies, athletics and transportation. With the renewed levy, Mercer Island property taxes would increase $0.06 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. For a property with an assessed value of $800,000, it would result in an increase of about $48 per year more than they are paying today. 

Strong schools make a strong community. It’s up to us to keep our schools the best in the state. Vote yes twice for the Levy Renewal and Bond! Endorsed: All current and 16 former MI school board directors; all MI city council members; former MI mayors Pearman, Cairns, Merkle, Newman, Jarrett; Sen. Litzow, Rep. Clibborn, Rep. Senn. Learn more: www.fixovercrowding.com.

Union officials in the Mercer Island Schools have pressured the school board to divert levy funds from student services in order to pay teachers more. Our levy should pay for student services, not for wage increases.

In the collective bargaining agreement sought by union officials, the average state-provided wage of $51,327 for teachers will be enhanced by 17 percent from levy and levy-matched funds. This costs roughly $2.3 million per year which could be better used to help at-risk students or reduce class sizes. The school district leads taxpayers to believe the levy money is being used for students, yet large amounts support union priorities instead.

Levies are great for funding local priorities and unique services for our area students, but taxpayers should hold off giving the school district any more money until the school board is able to put student services above the demands of union officials.

The opponents are not Mercer Island residents and do not have an interest in our schools or community.  They are outsiders whose agenda is to cut school funding statewide through misrepresentation. Mercer Island has excellent educators - their leadership and impact on students keep our schools strong, among the best in the state. Levy renewal is critical to supporting approximately 100 teachers and staff and maintaining excellence in district programs. Please vote yes.

Statement submitted by: Ralph Jorgenson, David D’Souza, and Paul Bergman
www.fixovercrowding.com

Don’t let the Mercer Island School District confuse you by a nuanced definition of taxes, levy, new, or renewal. Approving this measure will increase the amount you pay the government. Taxpayers should hold off giving the district any more money until the school board is able to put student services above the demands of union officials.

Voting ‘no’ on Proposition 1 will send this message to the district: Be more responsible with taxpayer’s money.

Statement submitted by: Laurie Lyford, Renay Bennett, and Tom Henningsgards
propertyrights4us@gmail.com

Download the full text of the resolution

Simple Majority (Wash. Const. art. VII, sec. 2(a))