What about a coalition of non-tax-based sources of funding for schools that would include, among others, local, state and national nonprofit organizations; national and international non-governmental organizations; and other organizations that claim to want to help humanity, such as churches?
If the churches in Clallam County all tithed over to the schools — the same rate of taxation that is currently being imposed on homeowners — public schools would have the money in no time.
Taking this idea even further, shouldn’t community expenses such as schools be paid for by some kind of capital gains tax?
Couldn’t businesses, industries or landlords who make capital income on their rentals — or really anyone who makes a capital gain above a certain amount — be asked to donate a percentage of their gain to education, a “school tax”?
This is really “extra” money, not money generated for living expenses by actual work.
If that sticks in your craw, how about at least stop pillaging the poor folks whose home values are less than $200,000 and instead just create an income tax to benefit schools?
Just because people “own” a home doesn’t mean they are living above subsistence level.
School tax should be tied to wealth, not homeownership.
Tracy McCallum,
Port Angeles