Othello district voters to consider replacement levy

OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will decide the fate of a three-year educational programs and maintenance levy in the special election Feb. 11.

If approved, the levy will replace the existing maintenance and operations levy that was approved by voters in 2017. In 2018, the Washington Legislature changed the programs that could be funded through the local levy, which led to a change in name for the levy itself.

Because it’s a school levy, the proposal requires a bare majority, 50 percent plus one vote, to pass. Ballots were mailed last week.

The levy request is for an estimated $1.53 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the first two years, about the rate of the current levy, and $1.55 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the third year. If the levy is approved, an owner of property worth $200,000 would pay $306 in taxes in the first two years. In the third year, the assessment for property worth $200,000 would pay $310 in taxes.

If approved, the levy would generate about $2.35 million in 2021, $2.435 million in 2022 and $2.56 million in 2023.

If the levy is approved, Othello will also qualify for levy equalization funds from the state. That’s a program that provides additional funding to districts that pass a levy but have relatively lower property values. District officials estimated Othello would be eligible for $5 million to $5.3 million in levy equalization.

The local levy “bridges the gap between what the state funds and what it really costs to run the school district,” said Othello School District Superintendent Chris Hurst.

The levy pays for programs and equipment the state can’t or won’t pay for, including extracurricular activities, some classroom teachers and some art and music instruction. It pays for some school nurse services, some maintenance services, and enhanced classroom technology. It helps pay some costs of school security, some custodian services, early learning programs and teacher training.

Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 11 – and ballots that are taken to the post office on Feb. 11 may or may not be postmarked on the right day. Voters who want to ensure the ballot has the proper postmark can get it canceled at the customer window.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].