Moses Lake plans replacement levy
Discover Elementary School special education teacher Ted Mack works with students in October. Special education is one program supported by the Moses Lake School District's levy. Photo by Chrystal Doucette/Columbia Basin Herald
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District is bringing a three-year replacement levy to voters in time for the Feb. 3 special election.
Ballots are being mailed Jan. 16.
The proposed levy replaces a three-year maintenance and operation (M&O) levy expiring in 2009.
The estimated collection rate for the current M&O levy is slightly under $3 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If approved, the new M&O levy charge $3.08 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2010, $3.09 in 2011, and $3.13 in 2012.
The levy would amount to more than $9.8 million in 2010, $10.3 million in 2011, and $10.8 million in 2012.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Monte Redal said in addition to existing programs, the levy supports essentials for Sage Point Elementary School.
The new school is expected to be complete in August.
“(The levy was) increased to cover (the) cost of some of the additional staff, like P.E. and music teachers, (and a) counselor at the new elementary school,” Redal said.
Curriculum materials and library books at the new school are included in the proposed levy.
“Other than that, we didn’t add any other new programs,” Redal said.
Programs supported by the levy include textbooks, curriculum materials, athletic programs, staff training, extracurricular programs, maintenance, computer labs, special services, library services, health services and school buses.
Equipment for music, sports, high school science, playgrounds and custodial services are included in the levy.
Teachers and staff for certain programs are included in the levy as well. Elementary school P.E. teachers, music teachers and counselors, a dropout prevention specialist, technology staff, school resource officers and secondary school security staff are all supported by the levy.