No on Measure L

Dear Editor: We are facing hard economic times here in Willows. Foreclosure threatens many of our neighbors, gas prices have reached a historic high and people are playing more for their groceries than ever before. In order to secure money for new buildings and improvements to our schools, Measure L proposes to raise taxes by selling a series of bonds totaling $20.7 million dollars. These bonds will mature over the next 40 years and interest alone could cost taxpayers as much as $36 million dollars bringing the potential total to $56 million dollars. That’s a lot of money.

Everyone wants the best for our children, but at what price? It seems prudent to insist our elected School Board members and our Superintendent go back to the table and offer we the taxpayers alternate solutions. There is a need to work on our schools to improve them and make them more efficient, however, it stands to reason that a gigantic bond burdening our children and grandchildren for the next four decades isn’t the most financially sound answer.

Consider how this will affect you. Those who rent will find their rent raised. Home owners will bear an increase in taxes that many simply cannot pay. Business owners, who are already struggling to keep their doors open, may just see this as the final straw that breaks the camel’s back. Allowing Measure L to pass will have a long-term negative effect on all those paying taxes in the Willows Unified School District, whether or not you have children attending school.

Caroyl Smith