La Conner’s unfair school funding system

The La Conner School District is promoting a 4-year special levy to be voted upon in February. Special levies are paid for exclusively by local property taxes. In La Conner only a fractional proportion of residents actually pay property taxes, the result of peculiar demographics and highly uneven, unfair tax laws.

Tribal members residing on the reservation are strongly encouraged to vote for school levies. They enjoy the benefits but have virtually no tax liability. Under federal laws, they pay no property taxes, no sales taxes, nothing. Shelter Bay residents – most of whom live on lease...