ESD levies planned for November ballot

EPHRATA — Ephrata School District voters will decide the fate of two school district levies on the November ballot. If approved, these measures will purchase four new yellow school buses and provide capital needed to address facility and infrastructure improvements throughout the district, according to a press release from the district.

“When I stepped in as superintendent, I committed to uphold the tax plan of those that held my position before me,” Tim Payne, Ephrata School District superintendent said in the release. “We are moving forward on a long-term capital plan that includes the building of a new high school in the near future. We’re sensitive to the impact we have on our community and its taxpayers, and are working hard to anticipate the needs of Ephrata’s future while keeping tax rates as stable as possible.”

The release said the two levies will follow previous years’ levy tax rates and that in 2018, Ephrata Schools made a commitment to keep school bonds and levy taxes close to $4.70 per $1,000 of assessed value. The release states the two measures will have taxpayers pay a total of $4.72 in 2023 and $4.69 in 2024.

The Capital Levy for Technology and Infrastructure Improvements will fund athletic field lighting upgrades, district storage facility construction, transportation/maintenance facility Upgrades and technology infrastructure, equipment and systems.

The levy to purchase school buses will fund four new school buses.

“We strongly believe that the identified projects and new buses are necessary to meet the growing needs of Ephrata schools,” said Payne in the release. “We hope that the community of Ephrata will continue its staunch support of our school district.”

For more information on the levy’s impacts visit the release at: https://bit.ly/3M1bKPo.