Tumwater will place $64.9 million school levy on February ballot

The Tumwater School Board voted 5-0 Thursday night to place a four-year, nearly $64.9 million maintenance and operations levy request on the Feb. 9 ballot.

Levy dollars help pay for a variety of educational programs and services in the district, including smaller class sizes, special education, and music and athletic programs. In most districts, local levies contribute to about a quarter of the district’s annual revenue.

If approved, property owners in the 6,600-student district would pay $3.35 to $3.45 per $1,000 assessed property value for four years. Collection at those rates would begin in 2017, according to the district.

The North Thurston School Board recently voted to place a four-year $163.5 million M&O levy request on the February ballot. The Olympia School Board is asking voters to approve a $161 million construction bond and a $106.8 million M&O levy measure during the same election.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Tumwater will place $64.9 million school levy on February ballot."