This short Legislative Session, which began yesterday and will go to March 11, will mainly be a struggle between those who want to maintain our education and services (Washington's quality of life and future), and those whose highest priority is low taxes. Our goal is to get the Legislature to find the revenue needed to prevent further cuts to our schools. They can do so by either closing tax loopholes or instituting new taxes.
Although the State cut millions from Northshore last year, they are looking at cutting another $4 million, including the remaining I-728 class size funds ($1.5 million) and the K-4 Class Size Reduction Funding that has been in place for many years ($2 million). They are also looking at eliminating the remaining LID Day ($300,000) and all Highly Capable Funding ($140,000). This is ALL State funding that is not considered "Basic Education". But it's essential and basic.
One opportunity for addressing future cuts (like when the Federal Stimulus funding ends) is the possibility of slightly increasing the amount that can be raised from local levies. If the Legislature passes an increase in the "levy lid" - the amount we are allowed to put on a levy, Northshore will go back to the voters with another levy - after the current ones pass. It's not ideal, but it beats ongoing cuts for the next few years.
Please go to ourvoicewashingtonea.org and email your legislators (all three of them) from your HOME computer or phone. Tell them, "You've cut our schools too much already. NO MORE CUTS! Find the revenue to maintain the limited funding we now have. And let us raise more locally with voter-supporter levies."
You don't need to know who your legislators are to do this. You simply enter your address into ourvoicewashingtonea.org, and your legislators will pop up. Or use the information below, listing their phone numbers.
Or call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 (to 8 PM in the evening) and leave this message with the operator. She will ask you your address, and identify your Legislators for you.
We'll be asking you to contact your Legislators several times until March 11. You can always get more info at ourvoicewashingtonea.org. And it's the easiest way to email Legislators. (But use your HOME computer to email Legislators.
