These are some of the toughest economic times in the past 60 years. One in ten Americans have lost their jobs, and most people know family members and friends who are out of work or stretching to make ends meet.

It’s a tough time for school districts and libraries to go to voters, hat in hand, asking for more money.

But that’s just what the Snoqualmie Valley School District, Riverview School District and the King County Library System are doing.

The Lower Valley’s Riverview School District is floating an M&O levy that provides a fifth of the school’s budget, a technology capital projects levy and a two-year, eight-cent transportation levy that would buy 23 new school buses. If all passed, a resident with a home worth $350,000 would pay about $1,270 a year in taxes, or about $100 a month. That’s about $4 more than they’re paying with Riverview’s existing levy. For $4 more, they get updated technology, new buses and a stable budget. Sounds like a good deal, no?

The Snoqualmie district seeks a renewal and increase in its four-year maintenance and operations levy. This levy pays for a good 20 percent of the school budget; the district seeks a $3 million bump in 2011 and an additional $4 million by 2014.

Snoqualmie schools also ask for an increase and re-up for its four-year tech levy, which supports training and upgrades. The tech levy rate is going up by about 23 cents, while the M&O levy is rising by 34 cents. If both levies pass, the owner of a $350,000 home would pay on average about $76 a month, rising to about $100 by 2014.

The King County Library System is also seeking a bump. Tim Eyman’s Initiative 747 holds libraries, like most county agencies and cities, to a maximum tax increase of 1 percent. While that annual 1 percent bump sounds nice, it doesn’t always keep up with increasing cost of doing business.

As costs go up, the library system watches its levy rate fall. Lid lifts are the library’s way of asking for a needed boost.

Get out and vote

Yes, these are very tough times. Yes, many people’s pocketbooks are pinched tighter than ever, and these levies are asking for a little more. But it’s difficult to find a compelling reason to say no to levies.

School levies are such an important part of education funding in this state that, a while back, state residents voted to eliminate the crippling “supermajority” requirement, mandating 60 percent approval for a measure to pass. Also dropped was the validation requirement, which called for a minimum voter turnout for passage.

Local cities and civic organizations have expressed their support for these levies, which are more akin to housekeeping measures than bold, sweeping increases. You’d keep your own house in order, wouldn’t you?

Remember, this is an all-mail ballot. The days of going to a local polling place staffed by grannies, parents and other patriotic citizens is past, as is my other favorite tradition, slotting the ballot and proudly affixing the “I voted” sticker on my chest pocket.

The King County Elections Office eliminated local ballot drop boxes. If you want to drop off a ballot, the nearest place to do that on election day is Bellevue. Seems a little far to go when the local post office is so close.

Feb. 9 is election day. Exercise your right to vote.

• E-mail Valley Record editor Seth Truscott at editor@valleyrecord.com