Tri-Cities schools have a month to get the word out for upcoming levy votes
Tri-Cities school districts are hoping to do a better job getting the word out after recent levy failures, but they only have a month before the next vote.
Three Benton County school districts plan on hosting events to inform voters about levy propositions that will appear on the April 26 ballot. Ballots are expected to be mailed on April 8.
Kennewick, Prosser and Finley school districts are all trying again after each failed to gain majority support on their replacement levy measures that ran on the February special election.
Kennewick’s four-year replacement levy, which will be scaled back to a two-year measure on the April ballot, failed last month with 51% disapproval.
Finley’s failed by a slim margin — just 12 votes — while Prosser’s failed overwhelmingly with 54% disapproval.
District staff and campaigners are still working to figure out what went wrong. Kennewick and Finley sent out levy surveys.
Both districts were told there were some communications problems. In Kennewick, some voters said campaign materials arrived late and some Finley voters said there was a lack of information.
“We understand that some residents did not get the information they needed to make an informed decision prior to the Feb. 8 election,” reads information on the Finley district’s website.
Levy dollars help bridge the gap between what’s paid for by the state in terms of staffing and funding, and what a school district needs in order to operate successfully, say school officials.
The funds pay for things such as nurses, athletics, technology upgrades and special education, among other things.
Funding cuts in those districts are likely if the voters aren’t willing to replace the property assessments that expire this year.
Here’s how you can learn more:
- Kennewick School District will host hour-long open houses at its administrative office, at 1000 W. 4th Ave. Those dates include: 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 31; 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12; and 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 14.
- Prosser School District plans an hour-long open house at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, at the Prosser High School auditorium.
- Finley School District plans an open house within the next two weeks, said Superintendent Lance Hahn, though nothing has been scheduled yet. Information will be posted on the district website as it becomes available.
