Article Contributed on: 10/16/2008 10:13:11 AM
Right here in the middle, supporting schools makes sense.
By every indicator I can find, my family is in the "median" of Douglas County. Median income, median home value, median tax bracket, you get the picture. But we enjoy a high quality school district. My three sons have been able to take advantage of Advanced Placement classes and the quality curriculum has allowed the older boys to skip almost a year of college courses each. That savings equates to about $24,000.00 for our family. Their younger brother is in line to do the same and all three have enjoyed the Fine Arts opportunities made available through this community's support of effective schools over the past twenty years.
As a practical matter, support of the district adds value to our home and will help shelter us from some of the effects of the real estate problems facing the country. But like everyone else right now, we are checking our wallets to see if we can stay afloat. The TV and radio blare out the "Evils of Taxes", but like most middle Americans we enjoy the results of what our taxes fund. We like clean water, good roads, strong schools, a fireman and sheriff at the ready. We just don't like waste. We want efficiency and good management. My wife and I feel that we get that with Douglas County Schools.
For 2007, I calculated that my "median" family contributed $883 to fund Douglas County Schools. That is about 49% of my total property tax bill as a resident in Douglas County. Push a few buttons on the calculator and that gives me $2.42 per day for schools. That is less than hitting McDonald's for breakfast on the way to work. Now, I touch the calculator a couple more times and add the increase that DCSD is asking for (0.9 cents per day for every $100,000 of home value) and $2.63. When we all chip in it adds up to enough to fund a very high quality school district that is both effective and efficient.
We elected the board of education and they have done their job with the effectiveness and efficiency that time and again means projects completed on time and under budget. The Board has met the needs of a fast growing district. They have directed the hiring of quality teachers and the development of top-notch curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners. They have earned our support, please join us. Invest in the School District, vote yes on 3A and 3B.
Check out
www.citizens4dcschools.com.
Steve and Carol Johnson
Highlands Ranch