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School leaders across the Mid-Columbia were celebrating Tuesday night as their maintenance and operations levies passed at the polls.
The measures require 50 percent voter approval, but in some districts the approval rates were reaching 60 percent or higher. In the Prosser School District, the two-year replacement levy was passing with about 71 percent of the vote.
"It's amazing. The community gave us solid support ... This community values education and it shows. It just shows," said Rick Jansons, school board president in Richland, where the levy was passing with 65 percent approval.
School districts across Washington rely on levies to help pay for daily costs not fully covered by the state, from music and sports programs to utilities and transportation. Most Mid-Columbia districts also get what's called "levy equalization" when their measures pass, which is state money given to "property poor" districts to make up for low property valuations.
That means millions of dollars in school funding is at stake for Tri-City schools in levy elections.
In the Kennewick School District, for example, the levy makes up more than 18 percent of the budget, said Superintendent Dave Bond.
Kennewick's levy was passing Tuesday with about 62 percent of the vote.
"We're very grateful for the continued support. We'll continue doing the best job we possibly can for students," Bond said.
School leaders in Pasco also were cheering the election results. The district's levy had about 56 percent voter approval Tuesday night.
One important thing to know about levies is that the money they generate stays local, helping maintain local schools and local jobs, said Valerie Moffitt, co-chairwoman of the citizens' committee that worked to pass the Pasco measure.
With levies, "we're really investing in ourselves and our neighbors," she said.
The measures especially are critical now because districts across Washington are facing more cuts from the state as lawmakers work to plug a $2.6 billion shortfall in the remainder of the 2009-11 budget, leaders said.
Passing the levy "is just another demonstration of how the community comes together to provide our kids with what they need," said Saul Martinez, Pasco School Board president.
None of the Tri-City area levies is a new tax and instead replace a current levy that's expiring.
The election results aren't yet final; there still are some votes left to count.
Here's a look at preliminary results from Tuesday night, according to tallies from the Benton and Franklin auditors' offices:
Richland School District
The Richland measure was passing with 8,898 yes votes, or about 65 percent. The two-year levy will collect $17.3 million in 2011 and $18.3 million in 2012 at an estimated rate of $2.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value both years.
Pasco School District
Pasco's levy was passing with 4,169 yes votes, or about 56 percent. The two-year levy will collect $18.45 million in 2011 and $19 million in 2012 at an estimated rate of $4.55 per $1,000 of assessed value both years.
Kennewick School District
Kennewick voters were approving the levy with 9,588 yes votes, or about 62 percent. The two-year levy will collect $19.3 million in 2011 at an estimated rate of $3.24 per $1,000 of assessed value and $20.6 million in 2012 at an estimated rate of $3.34 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Finley School District
Finley's levy had 661 yes votes, or 64 percent. The two-year levy will collect $1.4 million in 2011 at an estimated rate of $3.76 per $1,000 of assessed value and $1.45 million in 2012 at an estimated rate of $3.78 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Kiona-Benton City School District
Ki-Be's levy was passing with 919 yes votes, or about 60 percent. The two-year levy will collect $2.1 million in 2011 and $2.2 million in 2012 at an estimated rate of $4.64 per $1,000 of assessed value both years.
Prosser School District
Prosser's levy was passing with 1,516 yes votes, or about 71 percent. The two-year levy will collect $3,368,291 in 2011 and $3,469,339 in 2012 at an estimated rate of $3.27 per $1,000 of assessed value both years.
North Franklin School District
Voters in North Franklin were passing the levy with 687 yes votes, or about 67 percent. The two-year levy will collect $1.7 million in 2011 and $1.75 million in 2012 at an estimated rate of $2.56 per $1,000 of assessed property value both years.
Levies also were passing in other Mid-Columbia school districts: Grandview with 60 percent; Kahlotus with 79 percent; Othello with 60 percent; and Touchet with 62 percent.
-- Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com
