Schools districts seek levies

MOSES LAKE - Quincy and Ephrata school districts are seeking replacement levies.

For Ephrata, the proposed four-year levy would replace the current levy, which expires this year. If passed, the replacement would provide the Ephrata School District $14 million by its end in 2015.

"We're asking for just enough money to continue maintenance and operations and educational services that we provide to students," said Ephrata School District Superintendent Jerry Simon.

The levy rate would stay at $4.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the four-year duration of the levy, according to Simon. The rate would stay the same over four years because the assessed value of the district went up more than expected.

As of 2011, the Ephrata School District has an assessed value of $705 million.

Only if the levy passes will the school district be eligible for state levy equalization funds of $1.67 million.

Simon says the levy equalization amount is given to "property-poor" districts, such as Ephrata, which don't have a large number of big businesses in the area.

"It helps ensure that students in every district, whether in a property-rich or property-poor district, get the same amount of support," says Simon. "If we didn't receive levy equalization, we'd have to ask for more money. Ephrata's maintenance and operations levy, plus levy equalization which is a state match provided by Washington, together those comprise 21 percent of the annual school budget."

The Quincy School District is also hoping to pass a four-year levy replacing the three-year levy that expires this year.

The levy rate proposed to voters is $2.95 per $1,000 of property tax value, the same as the 2008 levy.

"The levy seeks to provide funds in addition to the state's. The state's funding isn't adequate, that's been demonstrated over and over again," said Quincy School District Superintendent Burton Dickerson.

The proposed levy will raise $5.95 million for the school district.

 For each levy dollar collected, 15 cents will go toward extra curricular activities, 28 cents will go toward maintenance, supplies and operating costs, 16 cents will go to under-funded programs and 41 cents will go to employee costs and benefits.

"But this is typical of any school in the state," Dickerson says. "The levy seeks to provide funds in addition to the state's. The state's funding isn't adequate; that's been demonstrated over and over again."

As Soap Lake School District prepares to propose a levy to voters next year, Superintendent Dan McDonald says levies are greatly needed by area school districts.

"Levies for everyone are very important especially at this time because of legislature and the state," McDonald says. "The burden role will be pushed toward citizens and it will be very difficult and important that everyone understands. Even for us at this time it's important how other districts do, and particularly the constituents out there, so they understand the importance of the things we do."

Ballots need to be postmarked by Tuesday to count in the special election.