Seven of the eight Thurston County school districts seek voter approval for levies on the Feb. 9 ballot. Ballots are expected to be mailed to registered voters Thursday.
The levies in North Thurston, Tumwater, Griffin, Tenino, Rochester and Rainier are maintenance and operations levies, which provide revenue for more than 15 percent of the districts’ general funds. Each district determines how to spend its maintenance and operations levy money, which pays for a wide variety of programs and services, including paraeducators, computers and music programs.
The Olympia district is asking voters to approve a construction and technology levy, which district officials say will pay for improvements that will address maintenance problems but will not build for growth.
Both types of levies require a 50 percent plus one simple majority to pass.
Jon Halvorson, the co-chairman of North Thurston Citizens for Schools, said the districts’ campaign committees have a similar message for voters – “that schoolchildren need our support.”
Still, district officials say that even if voters approve the maintenance and operations levies, schools could face another year of shortfalls because of expected cuts to the state budget. About 80 percent of district funding comes from the state.
STATE SHORTFALL
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s latest budget proposal would restore many cuts that were included in her original proposal in December.
However, funding was not restored for programs that allowed for smaller classes by paying for more teachers.
Local districts have made millions of dollars in cuts in the past few years because of cuts in state funding.
Tumwater superintendent Terry Borden said that the district will strive to maintain its programs, but he noted that it made cuts to adjust for shortfalls both this year and last year.
Making cuts is difficult “whenever you have to reduce on top of what you had to reduce before,” he said.
Shawn Lewis, the assistant superintendent of administrative services for North Thurston, said it’s too early in the legislative session to know how the state budget will affect the schools but that both of Gregoire’s proposals so far would mean a $4.3 million shortfall for North Thurston. The state House and the Senate have yet to weigh in with proposals.
“We are just waiting to find out what those budgets have in store for us,” Lewis said.
OLYMPIA
At Olympia, the district is asking voters to approve a levy that must be spent on construction, maintenance and technology, but if the levy fails, the district’s operating budget could be affected, spokesman Peter Rex said.
The current technology levy, which expires after this year, pays for staff members who provide training and assistance to teachers so they can better use technology in their classrooms.
If the 2010 Olympia levy fails, the district will have to decide whether to maintain those programs.
“If we wanted to continue with those things, they would come out of the general fund,” Rex said. “When computers become obsolete, we would need to use general funds to replace those in the classroom.”
CAPITAL’S ROOF
Capital High School’s roof is the biggest-ticket item on Olympia’s $25.5 million construction and technology levy, but other schools also would see facility improvements.
“The message on this one is ‘Safe, warm and dry,’” Olympia Citizens for Schools campaign chairman Bob Marra said.
After the Capital High roof collapsed through the library and surrounding classrooms in 2008, the City of Olympia required the district to strengthen the rest of the roof to bring it up standards set by city codes.
The school operates under a conditional-use permit, which requires closing the school if there is more than 4 inches of snow on its roof.
About $15 million of the levy would pay for Capital’s roof repairs, as well as new heating systems, parking lot improvements and other repairs throughout the district.
The rest would pay for technology maintenance and upgrades, including replacing the district’s phone system, maintaining the computers and technology available to students, and providing training for teachers.
District officials decided last year to put off addressing district growth needs, including purchasing property to accommodate increasing enrollment.
BONDS VS. LEVIES
Marra said that a levy, which requires a simple majority, “made sense in this economy” instead of a construction bond. A bond would have raised more money more quickly than a levy, but it would require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
“A bond is a tougher animal to pass; let’s be realistic,” he said. “This is a $15 million safe, warm and dry, let’s-get-things-fixed levy.”
Venice Buhain: 360-754-5445
www.theolympian.com/edblog
Levy breakdown
When will I see my ballot?
The Thurston County Elections Office is expected to mail ballots to registered voters by Thursday. The ballots must be received by the Elections Office or postmarked by Feb. 9. Olympia
Four-year, $25.3 million construction and technology levy
Collections: $9.8 million in 2011, $10.7 million in 2012, $2.3 million in 2013 and $2.3 million in 2014
Expected rate: $1.22 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2011, $1.29 in 2012, 27 cents in 2013 and 26 cents in 2014
Voter-approved 2010 collection: N/A. The district’s voter-approved technology levy will expire after this year and several bonds will be retired, so the overall tax rate will stay about the same, district officials say. The technology levy is set to bring in $2 million in 2010.
Cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $305 in 2011, $322.50 in 2012, $67.50 in 2013 and $65 in 2014
What it pays for: The levy will raise $15.5 million for construction projects, including upgrades to Capital High School’s roof to bring it up to city code ($5.5 million); heating and ventilation system replacements and upgrades at Centennial, Brown and Lincoln elementary schools and Jefferson and Marshall middle schools ($3 million); an $800,000 re-roof and repair to the old John Rogers Elementary School site, which houses the district’s online program; and program improvements and modernizations to Jefferson Middle School ($500,000). Nearly $10 million will be collected for the district’s technology needs, including $3 million for new and replacement hardware and tools for the classroom, $1 million in classroom software and teacher training, and about $2.6 million for network and telephone upgrades.
Effect on the operating budget: Although the money collected from this levy must be directed toward construction, maintenance or technology costs, district officials have said that if the levy fails, some of these costs would come out of the district’s general fund.
North Thurston
Two-year, $56.4 million maintenance and operations levy
Collections: $27.5 million in 2011 and $28.9 million in 2012
Expected rate: $2.55 per $1,000 of assessed value each year
Voter-approved 2010 M&O levy collection: $25.5 million
Expected cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $637.50 each year
What it pays for: This year, the levy money has been spent in the following categories: 59 percent to teachers, support staffers and supplies; 19 percent to special program support, which is special education and remediation programs; 8 percent to transportation; 8 percent to facilities; and 6 percent for athletics and activities.
Percentage of the operating budget: 19 percent
Tumwater
Two-year, $24.1 million maintenance and operations levy
Collections: $11.7 million in 2011 and $12.4 million in 2012
Expected rate: $2.44 per $1,000 of assessed value each year
Voter-approved 2010 M&O levy collection: $11.8 million
Expected cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $610 each year
What it pays for: 25 percent for teachers, 7.6 percent for classified staff, 8.2 percent for special education, 0.3 percent for gifted education, 12 percent for athletics and activities, 11 percent for transportation, 2.2 percent for supplies, 6.2 percent for training and staff development, 15 percent for curriculum and instructional materials, and 12 percent for maintenance
Percentage of the operating budget: 19 percent
Griffin
Two-year, $4.44 million maintenance and operations levy
Collections: $2.119 million in 2011 and $2.323 million in 2012
Voter-approved 2010 M&O levy collection: $1.77 million
Expected rates: $1.92 per $1,000 in assessed value in 2011 and $2.11 per $1,000 in assessed value in 2012
Cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $480 in 2011 and $527.50 in 2012
What it pays for: 47 percent for educational programs and district-wide services including maintaining smaller classes, playground supervision and special education; 42 percent pays for student high school attendance in other districts, mainly the Olympia School District; and 11 percent goes to transportation
Percentage of the operating budget: 24 percent
Rainier
Two-year, $2.9 million maintenance and operations levy
Collections: $1.4 million each year
Voter-approved 2010 M&O levy collection: $1.4 million
Expected rate: $2.95 per $1,000 of assessed value both years
Cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $737.50 per year
What it pays for: 36 percent for teaching and support staff, 13 percent for athletics and activities, 12 percent for maintenance, 10 percent for counseling, 8 percent for instructional materials, 6 percent for special education, 6 percent for transportation, 5 percent for technology, and 4 percent for school lunches
Percentage of the operating budget: 19 percent
Rochester
Two-year, $6.8 million levy
Collections: $3.39 million each year
Voter-approved 2010 M&O levy collection: $3.39 million
Expected rate: $2.61 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2011 and $2.54 of assessed value in 2012
Expected cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $652.50 in 2011 and $635 in 2012
What it pays for: 80 percent for educational programs, which includes arts, band and choir, staffing that reduces class sizes, textbooks, and technology; 9 percent for athletics and activities; 6 percent for buses; and 5 percent for facilities
Percentage of the operating budget: 14.7 percent
Tenino
Two-year, $5.5 million levy
Collections: $2.75 million each year
Voter-approved 2010 M&O levy collection: $2.75 million
Expected rate: $2.91 per $1,000 of assessed value each year
Cost for the owner of a $250,000 home: $727.50 each year
What it pays for: 25 percent for instructional programs, 15 percent for support staffers, 10 percent for fine arts, 10 percent for additional teachers, 10 percent for athletics, 10 percent for building and maintenance, 10 percent for transportation and student support, 5 percent for student activities, 2.5 percent for special education, and 2.5 percent for a drug and alcohol counselor for students
Percentage of operating budget: 16.3 percent
Venice Buhain, staff writer
