One Tri-Cities area school levy is tied, another failed. Full election results here

Update: Finley School District levy no longer tied after more votes are counted

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The levy vote in one Mid-Columbia school district ended in a tie and another levy was failing after Tuesday’s election.

The Finley School District levy was tied at 339 for and 339 against, with more ballots expected to counted by the end of day Wednesday.

In the Kiona-Benton City School District, the levy was failing 617 to 828, with just 43 percent of voters favoring the measure.

The replacement educational programs and operations levies on the ballot require a vote over 50 percent to pass.

Voters in the Paterson, North Franklin and Kahlotus school districts were passing their levies by wide margins.

School levies cover school district costs the state does not pay for, such as athletics. They also heavily subsidize many other programs, including art, music and drama or to hire more counselors, nurses, librarians and security officers.

The vote for the Paterson district was 27 to 17, or 61 percent in favor.

For North Franklin the vote was 596 to 256, or passing by 70 percent.

And in Kahlotus it was 68 to 16, or 81 percent in favor.

Approved levies will raise money to replace already existing taxes that district property owners pay.

The school districts could ask for up to $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, but in most of the districts they are staying well below that mark. Four of the five districts were asking for two-year levies. Paterson is seeking a three-year levy.

▪ Finley School District asked for $1.94 per $1,000 of assessed value for the first year of the levy and $1.99 per $1,000 of the assessed value the second year to bring in $1.125 million in 2021 and $1.175 million in 2022.

▪ Kiona-Benton City School District asked for $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value to bring in $2.3 million in 2021 and $2.5 million in 2022. About 1,400 students attend the school district.

▪ The nearly 50-student Kahlotus School District asked voters to approve a $1.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is capped at $75,000. The levy is about four cents per $1,000 of assessed value higher than what property owners paid in 2019.

▪ North Franklin School District asked for a $1.56 per $1,000 of assessed value property tax for the 2,200 student district. The tax rate is only slightly higher than this year’s rate. If it’s approved, it would raise as much as $1.9 million in 2021 and $2 million in 2022.

▪ Paterson schools asked for 62 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2021 and 2023, and 60 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2022. The taxes are expected to raise $335,000 to $355,000 each year.

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 9:56 AM.