Opinion - Port Orchard Independent

New mayor uses his firing authority; will he say why?

Our new mayor isn’t saying why he fired City Clerk Patti Kirkpatrick, who’s described by current and past city officials as someone who was competent and helpful.

SKFR to decide ballot measure’s terms for levy

Anyone wanting to tell our South Kitsap Fire and Rescue commissioners their opinion about the upcoming property tax ballot measure should speak up by next week’s meeting.

Fire district’s standard of coverage | Guest column

How does your fire department determine where to put staffing and equipment in the community? South Kitsap Fire and Rescue (SKFR), as an accredited fire agency, maintains and operates under a document called the Standard of Coverage (SOC).

Small property tax increase for 2012

Property tax bills will be arriving in a few weeks, and two South Kitsap taxing districts will be considering property tax ballot measures in the coming year.

Do you think the legislature should pass a bill le

City will offer some help with burden of water rates

A few bucks more on the bimonthly water bill won’t be a huge deal for a lot of people, but it will be a burden for some families that are scraping by in hard times.

Seeking a principled basis for school funding

Since several years of fundamental reforms lie ahead for public schools, the South Kitsap School District administration and residents living within the district should prepare by considering what principles they hold dear.

Editorial | Bridge sales tax issue shouldn't still be one

How many tries will it take before the sales tax on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge construction is exempted?

No reduction in sight for local school levies

The South Kitsap School District administration faces a difficult task in developing the next four-year excess levy proposal.

Guest column | Embracing 'Kids at Hope' message

What is the message behind “Kids at Hope” in our schools?