Othello school levy passing in preliminary results

OTHELLO — Othello School District voters are approving a three-year educational programs and operations levy by a wide margin in preliminary results from a special election Tuesday.

In unofficial results, the levy received 559 yes votes and 336 no votes, getting approval from about 62.5% of the voters. Because it’s a school levy, the proposition required a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.

The levy will generate about $2.825 million in 2024, $3.085 million in 2025 and $3.3 million in 2026. Property owners will pay an estimated $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s unchanged from the current levy. The Washington Legislature changed the way levies are funded in 2018, and $1.50 is the maximum levy amount.

The levy replaces one approved by voters in 2020.

Othello also will qualify for levy equalization funds from the state. Officially “local effort assistance,” it’s a program that provides additional funding to districts that pass a levy, but have relatively lower property values.

District superintendent Pete Perez expressed appreciation to district voters in a press release

“We want to sincerely thank our community for continuing to show support for education through the local levy,” Perez wrote. “Strong schools build strong communities, and we’re sending the right message to our students about the value of education with this election.”