So many conversations have been happening lately about investments in our community and our future. I think one of the best returns on investment are those made in our youth.

I encourage your support of the North Kitsap School District levies.

Proposition 1, Educational Programs and Operations Levy: Washington state only funds basic education, which is the bare minimum. Levy monies are an essential supplement to meet the gap in state funding.

Proposition 2, Facilities and Technology Capital Projects Levy: Our schools and infrastructure are aging. Critical repairs for student health, safety and comfort are vital.

In North Kitsap, the current levy from 2014 and bond from 2001 expire at the end of 2018. The two levies on the Feb. 13 ballot are a replacement and do not represent an increase in your tax rate. Tax rates are expected to remain static or decline slightly in 2019 with the passage of these measures.

More than $1 out of every $5 for North Kitsap schools’ daily operations comes from levy money approved by voters. If these levy measures fail, cuts would need to be immediate and drastic; the school budget would be reduced by more than 20 percent beginning in 2019. This would be an unfortunate reality.

Our schools in North Kitsap are nationally ranked and some of the top in Washington state. Our community has consistently supported student achievement through voter-approved bonds and levies — one of the many reasons that North Kitsap is such a great place to live.

Vote yes for Prop. 1 and Prop 2, and encourage friends and family to support our students and our schools. Vote yes for a sound investment in our community’s future.

For levy information, go to www.nkschools.org/our_district/levy_and_bond_information.

Rob Gelder
Keyport