I just mailed the second half of my 2015 property taxes and I’m reeling from the astronomical figure my check required. And again we are being asked for another increase in property taxes to build an Aquatic and Recreational Community Center (ARC), continually being told how important it is to teach ‘our children how to swim.’ My question is ‘at what cost?’

In every available space in this neighborhood there is construction underway of new homes, many on lots that have been divided so multiple homes can be squeezed in. All these homes are selling in the million dollar plus range. With all these new houses in new spaces being sold at outrageous costs, one would think government coffers are being filled to the brim with additional resources yet we are continually being asked to increase taxes on higher and higher evaluations due to “need.” How much more need will there be when coffers are already overflowing with additional resources? When will the constant increase both in valuation and levy ever stop or will it? It is not reasonable to continually ask home owners to cough up additional dollars to cover the luxury of teaching kids to swim. Since when do retired citizens on fixed incomes need to contribute – not only to constantly increasing educational costs but to recreational resources as well? And, we aren’t even given a fixed amount for ARC but asked to ‘trust us’ in how much we’ll have the right to raise your taxes into perpetuity to fulfill our ideas of the ideal community resources.

No! No on Prop. 1 – it is not needed and only adds to every increasing property taxes which are already stretching budgets.

Linda Bonin, Kirkland