A question that comes up during the discussion of this critical bond and levy is whether or not this work and, the accompanying taxes should come now- in the midst of a recession. The short answer is NOW more than ever. Just as our parents and grandparents before us have stepped up to the plate in times of economic boom and bust, it is our turn to do so. The original Rogers High School was funded through a local bond passed by the Spokane community in 1930- during the worst economic time this nation has ever seen.
The $288 million dollar bond proposed by Spokane Public Schools is not a new tax. They have a long-range plan that replaces the districts 50+ buildings on a 'steady as it goes' approach, to prevent over-burdening any future generations with excess building modernization costs. Building now has several advantages:
construction costs have leveled off from the past several years
the money stays here- boosting the local economy with jobs and services from those jobs
interest rates for loans are at record lows
modernization saves energy and yearly operating costs which only go up
the costs for construction of a new school will only increase in coming years
This is truly a 'win-win-win' for the community, the economy, and most important- for the kids!
