PROSSER — The Prosser School District is asking voters to replace the maintenance and operations levy due to expire this year.

And district officials strongly remind them it’s almost exactly the same amount as before.

“I purposely didn’t ask for a penny more,” said Ray Tolcacher, Prosser superintendent, of the proposed tax rate.

The levy, which goes before voters in a Feb. 14 special election, will ask property owners to contribute $3.5 million per year for 2013 and 2014 to use for transportation, extracurricular activities, maintenance, staff salaries, textbooks and equipment. To pass, the levy requires a simple majority.

The district, which serves about 3,000 students, projects that rates will stay the same in 2013 as they are with the 2012 levy, $3.27 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $327 on a $100,000 home.

However, the 2013-2014 total amount of $7 million is about $100,000 higher than $6.9 million for 2011-2012, approved with 70 percent yes votes in 2010.

With a projected $2.2 million per year in state matching funds, the levy would mean $5.7 million for each of the next two years.

Also, if approved, the levy would be the only school-related tax burden on property owners in the district.

In December last year, the district made the final bond payment on the renovation of Housel Middle School 20 years ago.

That was a $1.37 per $1,000 of assessed value that taxpayers will not see on their bills this year, according to the Yakima County Assessor’s office. Prosser School District’s proposed M&O levy

2013 2014 Levy Amount: $3.5M $3.5 Proposed rate: $3.39 $3.39 --Values in millions of dollars. --Rate per $1,000 of assessed property value. Source: Prosser School District