Senior citizen property owners are being penalized. Having served 24 years in the military during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, I returned to my home state of Washington and purchased my home in Vancouver. This was 42 years ago.
Since that time I have seen extensive growth in east county and the Evergreen School District. Having no children in school during this time, I voted a definite “no” to all school levies. Of course each time the levies passed, the new wage exceeded the fixed income of the average senior citizen.
Teachers, who provide good examples to their students in all counties, should be paid the same wages. Like the military and government positions, a colonel or sergeant’s pay remains the same, regardless of where they are assigned.
Levies should not be allowed. It places an outstanding burden on a senior’s fixed income. Our annual levy cost this year was over $1,800 without any cost-of-living increase for the past two years for our retirement income. At 85 years young and regardless of our income, we deserve an exemption from the levy. In my opinion all property owners without children should be exempt from school levies. The state is supposed to pay the appropriate wage to each teacher.
