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2006 Seattle Elections Primary Elections Voters' Guide Initiative 88 - Funding for Seattle Schools Statement For A great city deserves great schools. That's why Seattle parents, teachers, civic leaders, arts and music supporters and other advocates for Seattle's public schools are voting YES for Initiative 88. Initiative 88 helps invest in Seattle's kids by: Restoring funds for arts, music and enrichment programs; Reducing class sizes; Providing all-day kindergarten for all students; and putting money directly into schools so all students receive the resources and help they need to succeed. Initiative 88 helps restore arts, music and enrichment programs for our students. These are the programs that broaden education and enrich our children's lives. For years, these were some of the most popular school programs with kids and parents. It's time to restore them to our curriculum. Initiative 88 helps reduce class sizes in every school. This means teachers can give students the personal attention they deserve. Initiative 88 helps provide all-day kindergarten for all families. The evidence is overwhelming. Kids who start school ready to learn do better in life than kids who don't get that early support. Initiative 88 helps ensure the money goes straight into the classrooms, so students get the resources they need. Initiative 88 funds cannot be used to balance the District's budget. Initiative 88 has strong support from those who best know our Seattle Public Schools; teachers, school support employees and parents. The Seattle Education Association, Schools First, the King County Labor Council and the Seattle School Board support I-88. Initiative 88 lifts the city's property tax lid for six years and allows the city to collect an additional 39 cents per thousand assessed value. Initiative 87, which we expect will be on the Nov. 7 general election ballot, authorizes the additional money to be collected and directed to Seattle Public Schools for the specific purposes listed above. It will raise about $40 million a year for student programs. Both initiatives are temporary and will expire after six years. Voters must approve both measures. Voters demand and deserve accountability for their tax dollars, and that's exactly what I-88 and I-87 give them - a clear commitment to investing in smaller class sizes, restoring arts and music and providing all-day kindergarten. Seattle voters have proved their support for their public schools many times before, and the Great Schools initiatives will give them a chance to once again show their support for our city's children. Vote YES on Initiative 88! Statement prepared by: Peter Steinbrueck, Parent & Seattle City Council Member Rebuttal to Statement For Please read the proponent's statement carefully where they admit, "I-88 can't be used to balance the district's budget." That means Seattle Schools' $20 million dollar annual deficit will go unsolved by I-88 and will grow in the future. The services described by proponents are all things we want for our kids but the School Superintendent's own Blue Ribbon Task Force strongly recommended the Seattle School Board cut unnecessary administration and transportation expenses first. The School Board has not stepped up to the hard work to balance the budget. Seattle taxpayers should not bail out the School Board or pick up the education tab for the State legislature. We all want what's best for education, but let's not divert Seattle taxes that go for police, fire, libraries, parks and transportation to do it. Vote no on I-88. Rebuttal prepared by: Mayor Greg Nickels |
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