The lawsuit filed on behalf of the Wahkiakum School District for relying on local property taxes for school construction sounds like “Deja vu all over again.” Didn’t the McCleary decision resolve that 10 years ago? No, McCleary was about “basic” education, this is about buildings; both concern state government failure on funding.
Funding comes from taxes we pay for schools based on the assessed value of property we own. Renters also, the cost of rent paid to the owner includes it. There are two aspects we vote on locally. Levies: “basic” education, staff, curriculum and classes, “the software.” McCleary involved that and the special interests involved were the government unions. Bonds: land, buildings and maintenance, “the hardware.”
Public money used for construction of buildings and various aspects is governed by prevailing-wage laws. This adds another state agency, Labor & Industries. The special interests involved are the building trades unions. Already there are elected state representatives and officials, 295 school districts, numerous boards, commissions and countless laws, rules, and policies.
For 37 years the governor’s chair has been occupied by Democrats. Its symbiotic relationship with two different types of unions, government and building trades, created a bloated bureaucracy only interested in more government and taxes.
Property tax is directly related to affordable housing. A court decision might resolve this; the bureaucracy never will.
