School-district bond measure is one too many

Most people are unaware that the Salem-Keizer School Board unanimously approved a $619.7 million (yes – more than one half of a billion dollars) school bond measure for voters to decide this May.

This bond will be the third school bond property owners will pay taxes on if approved.

A Salem home currently assessed at $200,000 pays roughly $306 for school bonds (now), but if the measure is approved, your new tax bill due this November could be closer to $554..

The new tax rate for school bonds will rise to be almost $3 per $1,000 of assessed property tax value. So, before voting on the school bond this May, I urge everybody to evaluate his or her home budget.

Are you comfortable with another tax increase? All of us live on a budget and this tax increase is an unreasonable financial burden on voters.

- Matthew Hale
Salem