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This letter was submitted to the Editor of The Redmond Spokesman in December 2003 Because policies in the past were seriously flawed Redmond and other school districts are having severe problems building new and needed schools. The Spokesman reported the school board had considered a number of possible but problematic scenarios to resolve the dilemma. There is an option that the board appears not to have discussed and its members and the public might wish to consider. That is, form a public corporation to purchase the necessary land and build the required schools. The corporation could sell bonds, perhaps tax-free, to interested buyers and offer a modest return on investment. Public-spirited citizens with the means to do so could purchase the bonds and help the community. Homeowners in difficult financial circumstances would be spared the punishing effects of having to pay additional property taxes they can ill afford. Alternatively, private corporations could build the required buildings and lease them to the school district. Unfortunately, there would be a risk that private corporations would try to gouge the community for excessive profits so this option could be less preferable to the preceding. If a majority of the people of Oregon ever get enough sense to do so, they can demand that their legislators revise the laws on system development charges (SDCs) so that realistic fees can be collected for school construction. In that case, future SDCs can be used to pay off the school bonds and the schools would eventually become the property of the school district. Back to Education Home Page Back to Schools Home Page |
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