Letter: Hockinson is a ‘strong community and strong schools protect strong property values’

Brush Prairie resident Brian Hebert says ‘voting YES on the Hockinson SP&O Replacement Levy is the smart financial choice for homeowners’

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

There is a simple truth in Hockinson that sometimes gets lost in political noise. We are a strong community and strong schools protect strong property values.

You do not have to have children in the district past, future or present to feel the impact. Whether you have lived here for decades, recently purchased a home, or may sell in the future, the quality of Hockinson’s schools is reflected in the single largest investment most of us will ever make: our homes.

The data is clear for every dollar invested in local schools, property values increase by roughly twenty dollars. The Brookings Institution reported that homes near high-performing schools sell for more than two hundred thousand dollars above comparable homes near lower-performing schools. A 2022 analysis from the Urban Institute concluded that stable school funding is one of the most reliable predictors of neighborhood economic strength and home price resilience, even during downturns.

In other words, maintaining school funding is not just about supporting students. It is about protecting our own financial futures.

Hockinson itself is proof of this connection. Our reputation, desirability, and rural but thriving character did not happen by accident. Strong schools made this community a place people actively seek out. Without them, Hockinson becomes just another zip code on a map.

There is also a key misunderstanding that deserves clarity. This levy is not a new tax. It is a replacement levy that keeps the district operating at the same basic service level we have today. The district continues to run lean, and the levy rate remains below the legal maximum. This is not about funding extravagance. It is about protecting essentials such as staffing, safety, student support services, extracurricular programs, and transportation. These are the elements that keep a district functional and a community attractive to families and businesses.

Failing the levy would not save taxpayers money. It would cost taxpayers in home equity, community desirability, lost programs, declining enrollment, and long-term damage to the district’s reputation. Once a community loses its standing as a place with strong schools, property values drop and they do not rebound quickly.

A levy failure does not just hurt students. It hurts homeowners, business owners, and anyone who cares about the stability and identity of Hockinson.

Opponents often argue that schools should live within their means. The truth is that our district already does. What rarely gets discussed is the cost of doing nothing. That cost shows up in home listings, property assessments, and eventually the decision to move elsewhere.

Every strong community in Washington shares one common trait. They invest in their schools. Not because it is political. Not because it benefits only some residents. But because it benefits everyone.

Voting YES on the Hockinson SP&O Replacement Levy is the smart financial choice for homeowners. It is the stability vote. It is the community value vote. It is the future-focused vote.

For the sake of property values, the local economy, and the identity of Hockinson itself, I will be voting YES and I encourage others to do the same.

Brian Hebert
Brush Prairie