As a volunteer to the Pasco School District's Citizens Budget Panel, I have had an opportunity to review the district's past, present and projected budgets and find the district to be an excellent steward of taxpayer money.

The levy we will be voting on in February is a replacement levy. It is not a new additional tax. And the levy amount the school district is requesting is approximately 5 cents per $1,000 less than the levy rate voters approved two years ago.

The Pasco School District has already tightened its belt the past two years to absorb decreases in state funding without negatively affecting student programs. The administration knows these decreases may continue and are making plans to, once again, manage them in a way that student programs will not suffer.

You and I, as voters in Pasco, have an opportunity to help keep those student programs viable -- we can vote Yes! for the levy. Levy dollars provide necessities like books, librarians, curriculum and teaching, utilities, insurance, student transportation and maintenance.

Let's show our Pasco kids the love on Valentine's Day; let's support education for the good of the kids and the entire community.

Jean Ryckman, Pasco