I pray my fears are mistaken, but here’s the ugly truth — the Tacoma School District’s capital improvement bond is not going to pass on March 10.



Nope, not this year anyway. Despite the best efforts of plenty of concerned Tacomans, and despite the fact that the bond should pass — because the repairs and improvements it would pay for are much needed, because the time is right, because it would create jobs and bolster the local economy and because it’s so obviously the responsible and diligent thing to do — voters aren’t going to go for it.



At least not in the numbers needed. At least not this year. Facing a recession of historic proportions, high unemployment rates and mass economic uncertainty — not to mention the rules which say that in order to pass this year’s capital improvement bond will need 60 percent approval — and will need to convince 40 percent of the turnout of last November’s historic election to vote this time around on a far less sexy proposition — the odds against the bond seem large, and likely insurmountable. 



Of course, respected voices from around our city have been urging voters to do what’s right — like Tacomamama, who’s championed the cause on the blogosphere, and Tacoma city councilmember Marilyn Strickland, and political pimp Marty Campbell, and even the Trib — which went way out on a limb in an editorial, “Voters — if they feel able — should support the Tacoma and Puyallup school measures.”



But the unfortunate truth is it probably won’t be enough. Too many people seem tired of taxes, scared about the economy and ignorant of the importance of a healthy school district. Too many selfish schmucks think they shouldn’t pay higher property taxes because they don’t have kids. And all too many people have been so freaked out by the state of our economy that they’ve convinced themselves that any additional taxes will send homeowners to the soup lines in droves.



In reality, the 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value the Tacoma Schools capital improvement bond will institute if passed — about $16 a month for homes valued at $245,000 — won’t break homeowners. In fact, better schools will only raise property values, which will benefit even those homeowners who’ve never reproduced. That’s not even mentioning the fact that funding the improvements will instantly create jobs in our area and capitalizes on the momentarily low price of construction and construction materials.



There are so many reasons why the Tacoma Schools’ capital improvement bond is a good idea. It’s one of those rare opportunities where everyone can win — most importantly the children who so desperately need Tacoma to make education a priority. That’s what makes the reality of the situation so disheartening.



It probably ain’t going to happen.



Marty Campbell, who has led the Tacoma Citizens for Schools campaign, isn’t as pessimistic as me, which may be reason for hope (remember that word?).



“I think it’s going to be close,” says Campbell of the capital improvement bond’s chances. “A lot of people really know this is a great time to be investing in schools. The people of Tacoma get the importance of education.”



For the sake of our city, let’s hope Campbell is right. The Tacoma schools’ capital improvement bond is too important to let fail.



Come on, Tacoma — prove me wrong March 10. The future of our children and our city is all that’s at stake.