This letter is addressing recently noticed inaccuracies given to voters regarding the upcoming Toledo School District levy in the against argument written by Elizabath and Greg Rohr and included with voter ballots and on voter.votewa.gov.
In the Rohr misstatements, it says, “Looking through the Strategic Plan, there are no mentions of the district wide low academic score report such as only 36.9% met the math standards and 31.9 % met the science standards last year.” These numbers appear to be incorrect when compared to recent test scores posted by the district which showed Toledo math at 44.8%, the highest of all eleven districts in the county, and science at 32.4% — currently sixth out of 11 in the county. With Toledo’s new facilities and strong ongoing community support, we should expect Riverhawk scores to soar higher in the coming years.
Next, the Rohr misstatements tell voters, “The levy money being asked for is a 63.1% increased change over the prior levy amount. Instead of paying $1,662 in levy amounts collected for a $500,000 tax parcel, we are being asked to pay $2,712.”
Those are very specific numbers. A 63.1% increase? $2,712 per year in school taxes? Really? It turns out, no, not really.
It is true the proposed levy amount is increasing. My home’s levy for Toledo School District is currently $1.16 per $1,000 of assessed value, according to the charge history available to all property owners through the county website. The Toledo School District is asking voters to increase this rate to $1.34. That would be a 16% increase — far from that very specific 63.1% figure the Rohr misstatements claim. Assuming a $500,000 assessed value and calculating an annual amount at the proposed rate, that taxpayer would contribute $670 annually to Toledo School District, not $2,712. I cannot figure out where or how the Rohrs came up with these wildly overstated numbers, both more than four times reality, that were sent out to voters.
I do not see the 16% increase unreasonable when comparing to worldwide increases of a similar caliber over the last few years. I don’t like it and it’s a pain I think we have all felt, but I don’t see it as unreasonable given the invaluable service provided to hundreds of families every day.
Toledo supports our kids based on truth, real numbers and verified data. Toledo doesn’t fall for fabricated and exaggerated numbers because though we may still have work to do, math and percentages are currently our kids area of strength, they can check the numbers themselves and they probably deserve a little more praise for that.
I propose our community sends a loud and clear message that we see the struggles our district has overcome and learned from recently. We’ll acknowledge all that and we’ll still show up as a community to support our kids — even 16% more than we did the last time they all asked us to.
Please consider voting yes for Toledo schools by Feb. 13.
Toledo proud,
Kyle Wheeler
Toledo
