The Investment
By Josie Painter
In just a few days, on May 12, ballots will be cast and counted. Every decision, every vote will make an impact on our community, but there is one that will have an impact for years, even decades to come: the Pierce Elementary School bond.
Within the elementary the classrooms are crowded, security is abysmal, and the pick-up and drop-off situation is an absolute nightmare. The bond focuses on repairing these issues and providing a safe and effective learning environment for the students.
The most pressing drawback to the bond is the money it will cost. If the bond were to pass, property taxes would increase. In an already strained economy, just a few missing dollars from our pockets raise serious concerns. So why would the school board try to pass the bond now? Because repairing the elementary is not an expense, but an investment for our community–one that will require more and more money the longer we wait.
Most understand the concept of investing. For some, this could mean new equipment, for others, this could mean buying stock, and for a community, this could look like a bond. All of these come at a cost, but the return on investment makes the cost worth it. So why are some of us willing to invest in equipment or stocks, but unwilling to invest in our community?
The unfortunate answer is money. The reason we are more willing to invest in something like equipment or stock is because those affect us monetarily. We know that equipment will increase efficiency, which increases profit, and stock has the potential to help us accumulate wealth. Repairing the school will never make money, but that is not why we are investing. We are investing in the future of our community. The children sitting in those crowded classrooms are the same children who will one day take care of you. Some will take over farms, others will become teachers, and some will care for you as you lie in a hospital or nursing home. What will you say to them then? That you are glad you saved a few dollars by not passing that bond? That you are glad you did not help our community grow by giving what little you had?
Despite the elementary school’s disrepair, some will still vote against the bond. It is an unfortunate aspect of human nature to look out only for oneself and the money in one's pocket, but for those who vote for the bond, thank you for investing in our town. We gain so much more when we give.
