Quincy EP&O levy to go to voters

QUINCY — Quincy School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a four-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election in February. If it’s approved, it would replace the levy approved by voters in 2022. District superintendent Nik Bergman said money raised through the levy accounts for about 16% of the district’s budget.

“The state doesn’t fully fund a lot of programs,” Bergman said. “It’s used to fund our highly capable (program) and STEAM enrichment. Some of it is used to fund special education, early learning, the arts, music. We have a music program that is just flourishing right now, and I can connect that to the community support of the levy.”

If the levy is approved, property owners would pay an estimated $1.25 per $1,000 if assessed property value all four years. A person owning property valued at $250,000 would pay about $312.50 in taxes, while a property owner with land valued at $350,000 would pay about $437.50 in taxes. If it’s approved, the levy is projected to generate about $10.7 million in 2027, $11 million in 2028, $11.3 million in 2029 and $11.7 million in 2030.

Levy money comes from local taxpayers and is subject to fewer restrictions than state or federal funding. As a result, it’s used to pay for programs that aren’t funded to the levels QSD administrators think the district needs, or that aren’t funded at all.

The district has a school resource officer and a school safety officer, staffed in cooperation with the Quincy Police Department. Money raised through the levy pays for both positions. The district pays for additional counselors, social workers and psychologists.

Quincy uses levy funds to pay for additional nursing services as well as expanded library services. Levy money funds also help fund college-level and AP classes at Quincy High School and Quincy Innovation Academy. Information from QSD estimated that about 26% of the levy funds go to pay for staffing that’s in addition to funding provided by the state. About 8% of levy funds are used to pay for programs that aren’t adequately funded by the state.

Levy money is the only funding source for extracurricular activities, which includes activities like QHS FFA and FBLA clubs, math and other academic clubs for elementary students, and some performing arts funding.

“We have over 101 kids in our marching band right now,” Bergman said. “And then we have 90 kids participating in choir, and that’s just at the high school, not our middle school program. And then, we have some amazing staff here. They’re just kid magnets.”

The levy also pays for all middle school and high school sports – programs that involve about half the QHS student body, Bergman said.

“We had 433 students participate in athletics last year,” he said. “And that’s just the high school.”

Quincy spent about 12% of its levy funds for extracurricular activities, according to the district.

Levy funds are used to pay for additional technology; it helps district officials provide a computer to every QSD student, according to information from the district. The majority of the money, about 54%, is spent for materials, supplies and operating costs.

Ballots will be mailed in mid-January and must be returned by Feb. 10. Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 10 or before to be counted.

    Quincy’s Lisbeth Diaz (5) pushes the ball upfield in a game against Ephrata in October. All Quincy School District sports are funded through the district’s educational programs and operations levy, which will go before district voters in February.