Schools at least as important as streets

The Washington State Department of Transportation was allocated $7 billion tax dollars for the 2011-’13 biennium to improve and maintain roads in the state of Washington. Taxpayers currently pay 37.5 cents for each gallon of gas that they purchase. Those taxes make up a portion of the WSDOT’s $7 billion allocation. Based on Washington state’s 2011 population census of 6,724,540, that equates to $1,040.96 for every person to improve our road system. The “Citizens For Responsible Taxation” opposes all of the school levies in the Spokane area.

Here is my question. If these citizens are so concerned about responsible spending of our taxes, why haven’t they opposed any of the taxes used to support WSDOT’s road projects costing $7 billion? Why don’t the “Citizens For Responsible Taxation” support legislation to either eliminate or charge a $5-per-tire fee for studded snow tires since they cause an estimated $24.7 million in damage to our roadways in Washington each year? Aren’t our kids as important, or even more important, than our roadways? I think so.

Please vote yes for all school district levies in the Spokane area.

John Parker

Spokane Valley