Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

Richland schools seek replacement levy

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

The Richland School District is asking voters to approve a two-year maintenance and operations levy Feb. 9 to help with costs not fully covered by the state.

The levy isn't a new tax but would replace the current levy, which expires this year.

Ballots are in the mail. Most other Tri-City area districts also are running levies in the election.

This year, school levies are especially important because districts are expecting to receive less money from the state for school operations, officials said. State legislators are grappling with a $2.6 billion shortfall in the remainder of the biennial budget and likely will have to make cuts to plug the gap.

"The one thing we can count on is the levy from the community," said Marilyn Allen, chairwoman of the citizens' committee working to pass the Richland measure.

She and other district leaders recently visited the Herald's editorial board to discuss the levy.

In Richland, the proposed levy would collect $17.3 million in 2011. That's an increase of 9.3 percent over the $15.8 million being collected this year under the current levy.

The increase in levy funds is needed to maintain district programs as enrollment continues to grow and resources shrink, educators said.

In 2012, the proposed levy would collect $18.3 million.

The estimated levy rate for both years is $2.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $295 a year for a $100,000 home. The rate is 9 cents per $1,000 higher than the current rate, which means property taxes would increase $9 a year for a $100,000 home.

Districts rely on levies because they don't get enough state and federal money to keep all their programs running. In Richland, the money generated is used for costs such as transportation, textbooks, technology, art, music and P.E. programs, sports and staff training.

Levy dollars aren't the only ones at stake in Mid-Columbia levy elections.

Most districts here also get what's called "levy equalization" when their measures pass. That's money given to property poor districts to create balance because richer districts with high property values can tax their residents at lower rates and still collect enough to pay school bills.

The larger Tri-City area districts, including Richland, get millions of dollars in levy equalization each year.

However, the funding is one of the programs that may be cut or eliminated this legislative session because of the state budget problems. And even if it's preserved, Richland officials said they'll likely get about 10 percent less than usual because the district's property values have gone up as others in the state have dropped, which affects allotment.

That means the levy dollars are critical, they said.

"Our goal is to maintain our focus on the kids. Our goal is to make sure they have the same learning opportunities as students did a few years ago -- hopefully even better (opportunities)," said Rick Jansons, school board president.

The district has more levy information at www.rsd.edu.

w Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com