I wish to open a discussion of options available to fund local education.

Thirty-five percent of all students in Oak Harbor schools live on base. The Impact aid to the school district is $3,500 for each student. The 2001-2002 Oak Harbor Schools budget for each student was $6,523.

The people living on the base do not contribute tax monies to any levy passed by the voters.

The Navy continues to build more housing because off base housing is inadequate and expensive. Taxing?

The probability of the Navy decreasing in size in the next 20 years is very real.

How can we get money necessary for good education?

1. Build a strong maintenance program not based on use of buckets to catch rain.

2. Accept only students which live in the Oak Harbor School District’s taxing district.

The Navy has its own fire, police and park departments. A marina, hospital, swimming pool, golf course and complete set of stores round out a very self-sufficient community.

They also have an airport. The only thing they don’t offer is K through 12 education. It is cheaper to have civilians run schools.

Having a school committee to register Navy voters for the purpose of getting enough yes votes to pass this next levy is disconcerting if not outrageous. Taxing someone else is a very delicate activity but seldom will work for the benefit of all.

Fred L. Henninger

Oak Harbor