Community News 01/16/09
Ballot to determine key funding for school districts
By Craig Howard
News Editor

The passage of SHJR 4204 in November 2007 signaled good news for school districts throughout Washington.

With the resolution in place, levy votes could now be approved by a simple majority – or any margin over 50 percent – instead of the previous super majority ultimatum, or at least 60 percent of the ballot.

In March 2006, a quartet of school districts in the Spokane Valley area ran replacement maintenance and operations levies, with three – Central Valley, Freeman and East Valley – earning super majority wins and one – West Valley – falling just short with 59.7 percent.

With levy funds comprising close to 20 percent of the district’s operation budget, West Valley officials understood the importance of getting the issue back on the ballot as soon as possible. In May of that year, over 70 percent of West Valley voters approved the three-year replacement levy.

Central Valley School District representatives speak to the Spokane Valley Chamber urging them to vote YES to the levy ballot at the chamber's January bizz buzz breakfast meeting. Photo by: Gary Roberto

“When it failed, we just had a lot of people who didn’t take the time to vote,” said Sue Shields, WVSD spokeswoman.

Every three years, school districts gear up for levy votes that provide funding to a variety of areas including transportation, classroom supplies, staffing, after school programs and maintenance of district facilities. The money comes from a property tax applied to each $1,000 of assessed value within district boundaries.

For the first time since the passage of SHJR 4204, Central Valley, East Valley, Freeman and West Valley will each have replacement maintenance and operations levies on the ballot. East Valley will also be running a $34.5 million capital improvement and school construction bond (requiring a 60 percent approval rate) and West Valley will include a replacement technology levy on its ballot.

Despite the simple majority cushion, district officials say they are working diligently to make sure residents understand the importance of the vote.

“We’re not taking anything for granted,” said Judi Christianson, a spokeswoman for the East Valley School District.

Ballots for each district initiative – along with a replacement maintenance and operations levy for the Spokane Valley Fire Department – were expected in the mail by today (Jan. 16). Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 3.

Last Thursday, around 300 supporters of the Central Valley levy gathered at CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point for a “Vote Yes” rally. The event included a variety of campaign activities, including the preparation of informational post cards that were mailed out to voters.

“We’re really trying to emphasize that this is a replacement tax, not a new tax,” said Lisa Louer, co-chair of the citizen-based effort. “It’s about supporting education and our future.”

Those involved in the campaign have been meeting since the CVSD board of directors announced in late October that the levy would appear on the Feb. 3 ballot. Now, Louer said, the group is working to distribute yard signs, buttons and bumper magnets dedicated to the cause. There are also four billboards throughout town that encourage residents to renew levy funds.

Community based groups in East Valley, Freeman and West Valley have also been at work this week, doorbelling, making phone calls and posting signs that encourage voters to pledge their support for education.

The levy rate in Central Valley, East Valley and West Valley takes into account the potential loss of state levy equalization funds. Last November, Gov. Christine Gregoire announced a cut of 3.4 percent in state matching dollars for 2008. According to the most recent state budget proposed by Gregoire, the current allocation could be reduced by 33 percent. School districts could roll back rates depending on how much state money is available

“We hope we don’t have to charge the full amount,” said East Valley Superintendent John Glenewinkel.

The levy rate in EVSD is proposed at $3.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The bond, which would fund structural upgrades at two middle schools and five elementary schools and also include a $19.3 million state match, would run 89 cents per $1,000. The total of $4.04 per $1,000 is the amount currently being paid by residents within the East Valley School District.

In Central Valley, the levy rate has been set at $3.27 per $1,000 for the years from 2010 to 2012. The tax means a resident living in a home valued at $100,000, would pay $327 a year.

The maintenance and operations levy accounts for over 20 percent of the budget in the West Valley School District. The rate has been proposed at $3.89 per $1,000 in 2010; $3.84 in 2011 and $3.74 in 2012. The levy is expected to generate a total of $22.5 million in three years.

West Valley’s replacement technology and capital projects levy, which funds the ongoing development and maintenance of the district’s technology network, is set at 27 cents per $1,000 in 2010, 26 cents in 2011 and 25 cents in 2012, raising $1.5 million in three years.

The last time a maintenance and operations levy ran in the Freeman School District, voters approved the replacement tax by a 67-percent margin. On that same March 2006 ballot, a technology and capital projects levy passed by 64 percent.

This time around, both levies have been combined into the maintenance and operations levy with some $130,000 of the funds being allocated annually to technology. Freeman has set the levy rate at $2.60 per $1,000 of assessed valuation over the next three years. Freeman Superintendent Sergio Hernandez said his district would stick with a flat levy rate and look at “identifying line by line where to make cuts” if the state match is reduced.