To the editor:

As an owner of one of Salem’s largest companies which designs and builds heavy machinery, I am writing to endorse the upcoming ballot measure to fund construction of a new school in Salem. I believe this levy is essential for attracting a much needed workforce, improving the growth and success of our community, and it will benefit not just our children but also our local economy.

At Butech Bliss, we require highly educated and skilled employees who can be difficult to find and convince to come live in our town. We’ve recruited individuals from across the country and from all over the world. I have watched first hand how nearly all of them considered where to raise their children, yet ended up choosing other communities besides Salem where education and housing were cited as the primary factors in their decision.

Salem has the oldest school buildings of all the adjacent districts and the only district which hasn’t constructed a new school in the last 25 years. In fact, the Salem’s newest building was constructed over 50 years ago with Southeast School in 1967 and our oldest building, Reilly, will be 100 years old in five years. What are these families’ perception of how Salem values its education when comparing our buildings to all the neighboring districts that built new schools?

Employees who live outside Salem don’t just take their lunch boxes home each night. They take their family’s eating-out choices, shopping dollars as well as their municipal income tax. They return to the home community where they chose to raise their family and they’re more likely to serve as coaches, youth leaders, school aides and civic volunteers. The vintage condition of our schools sends a message to potential residents that our community does not value education or invest in our children’s future.

By approving the levy, we will demonstrate our commitment to education and our children’s future, and it will make our town more attractive to families who are looking for a great place to live and raise their children. This, in turn, will help us recruit and retain the highly skilled employees we need to grow our business and strengthen our local economy.

I understand that some people may be concerned about the cost of the levy, but Salem taxes will still be lower than 2/3 of nearby communities and the cost will only be equivalent to a single takeout order per month. With the equivalent of one takeout meal a month, we can build for our future and invest in our children’s education in a way that will live on, and positively affect our community for generations to come.

In closing, I strongly urge all voters to support the upcoming ballot measure to approve a levy to build a new school. Together, we can invest in our children’s future and create a brighter, more prosperous future for our community.

Jock Buta,

Butech Bliss