Othello voters approve M&O levy

by Richard Byrd
| February 14, 2017 9:23 PM

OTHELLO — Millions of dollars will be dedicated to maintenance and operations in the Othello School District (OSD) over the next few years. Voters overwhelmingly approved the OSD’s maintenance and operations levy during Tuesday’s special election.

As of 8:15 p.m. Tuesday night 645 people, a 60.62 percent total, had voted in favor of the levy. Four hundred and nineteen people, a 39.38 percent total, voted against the measure. In order to pass, school maintenance and operations levies are required to receive a bare majority, 50 percent plus one vote.

Assistant Othello superintendent Gina Bullis thanked the community for supporting the levy proposal, and "I agree wholeheartedly," said district superintendent Chris Hurst. "And we look forward to making great changes," Bullis said.

The math for the levy, which replaces a levy previously approved by voters in 2014, equates to $3,050,000 in 2018, $3,200,000 in 2019 and $3,350,000 in 2020 to be directed to a number of different key areas in the district, a $150,000 increase per year.

Landowners will pay an expected $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in the first year, a projected $2.44 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in the second year, and $2.48 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in the third year, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald report. A piece of land with an assessed valuation of $200,000 would cost the owner about $480 in taxes in the first year, around $488 in taxes in the second year and about $496 in taxes in the third year.

All OSD extracurricular programs and after-school activities are funded by the money generated by the levy. In addition, the funds also pay for select technology and safety programs.

The levy also covers wages and benefits that are not included in the state’s basic support for teachers, aides, administrators and substitutes, according to the Herald. Levy money can also go toward funding the OSD’s preschool and kindergarten prep program, summer school and AVID program, which helps middle and high schoolers prepare for college.

The Adams County Auditor’s Office reports there are still an estimated 100 ballots left to be counted. The next scheduled ballot count is on Friday.