Warden, Quincy rerun school levies

Reruns scheduled for April 25

COLUMBIA BASIN — Administrators in the Quincy and Warden school districts are asking voters to hit the polls again April 25 with hopes of passing their school levies.

Both districts failed to get a super majority of 60 percent Feb. 7 when the levies ran the first time.

Quincy only received 56.4 percent in favor of the levy and Warden just barely missed the 60 percent mark with 59.74 percent voting yes.

"It was just a couple of votes (shy)," said WSD business manager Carol Seitz.

WSD superintendent Larry Blades was not available for comment.

Seitz added that as the vote was so close the board decided not to make any changes to the levy amount for the April rerun.

Quincy will not be making any changes to its levy amount either.

The QSD is running a two-year levy. The collection rate for 2007 is $2.92 per $1,000 of assessed property value with $2,375,000 collected. In 2008 the collection rate is $2.93 per $1,000 of assessed value with $2,425,000 collected.

Warden is running a two-year levy. The collection rate per $1,000 of assessed property value is $3.57 in 2007 with $850,000 collected and $3.67 in 2008 with $875,000 collected.

Quincy superintendent Roger Fox said he has been made aware of two concerns which may have played a part in the levy failure: Additional taxes from the new fire station in town and farmers struggling with fuel taxes.

If the levy does not pass in April, Fox said the district will have to be prepared to make roughly $2 million in budget cuts starting with sports, enrichment programs and transportation services.

Seitz said her thought as to why Warden's levy failed was due to confusion over having two propositions on the ballot, one for the levy and another for a $7.95 million bond.

The bond also failed and would have funded additions to the high school gym, adding a commons and music room as well as a new cafeteria and administration office.

Usually the district has a good success rate with its levies, Seitz said.