A round of applause for Bellevue voters who, despite tight economic times, saw the need to maintain quality in our schools.

Voting results show strong support for both school levies that were on the Tuesday ballot.

Proposition 1 will collect $191 million over four years to help pay for the day-to-day operation of the schools. Proposition 2 will collect $74 million over five years to remodel schools and improve technology in the classroom.

Saying “yes” to both means Bellevue pocketbooks will be pinched a bit more over the next few years. If you own a home appraised at $600,000, your school taxes will go up about $270 by 2014 from what they were last year.

That’s money well spent given the importance of education these days – and the ability of the Bellevue School District to deliver a truly outstanding program for our children.

– Craig Groshart, for the Bellevue Reporter