School Bond Decision

There are two bond measures up our vote next week in Multco.  One is a construction bond which has been getting the majority of the attention.  Here is a detailed Oregonian article about what that will cost.  Here is the raw data for the construction bond expenditures.  I like that chart, because it breaks the project down by total cost and cost per square foot.  

The other measure is an operating levy, which will fund teacher's salaries.  It has not been getting as much attention.  One group proposes a yes vote on the operating levy, and a no vote on the bond.  The levy is really a separate issue from the bond.  Here is a detailed explanation of the levy.  The purpose of the levy is to save about 450 teaching jobs which would otherwise be cut because the State cut funding.  It comes at a cost of $57 million a year.  

These are two tough decisions given the economic climate.  The levy seems like an easy yes vote, though.  The economic and social impact of cutting teaching jobs right now seems devastating.  The bond measure is harder to justify, given its expense, but it does contain necessary repairs.