Tri-Cities area school will lose sports programs, 2 dozen employees if levy fails again
There will be no football games this fall or track meets next spring for students at a Tri-Cities area school district if voters reject another levy.
Finley School District is at a crisis point, and it could get much worse if voters reject a levy request on ballots that went out this week.
Even if the levy passes, the district is facing deep cuts to programs that support students and teachers.
If the levy fails though, Finley will have to eliminate all sports programs, drop to a 4-day school week and slash staff by up to two administrators, two district office workers, eight teachers and 15 classified support positions.
The district is asking April 22 special election voters to pass a two-year, $3.45 million operations levy to fund teacher salaries, school safety, instructional materials, special education, the arts, student programs, athletics and building maintenance.
This is Finley’s last shot to secure replacement funding before its current levy expires at the end of the year. Washington public school districts can only make two attempts to secure local operations money in a calendar year.
On Wednesday, Benton County’s elections department mailed out ballots to the 3,100 voters who live in the school district.
The ask is about $1 million less than the $4.4 million measure voters rejected on the Feb. 11 ballot.
As a result, even if this levy passes, Finley School District will still have a budget shortfall of about $1 million, which will require cuts.
If voters instead reject it, the district will need to identify about $2 million in budget reductions for the 2025-26 school year.
In addition to the $3.45 million local taxpayers would give in 2026 and 2027, the state will pitch in an additional $460,000 to Finley schools through the Local Effort Assistance program.
The revenue is critical to adequately funding Finley’s schools, and it covers basic education needs not funded by the state.
Levy dollars, combined with state match, account for about 12% of the school district’s annual budget.
$2 million deficit?
Finley’s proposed levy would tax an estimated $1.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2026, then $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027.
The burden on a house valued at $400,000 would be about $750 the first year, then about $800 the second year.
But voters often never end up paying the proposed rate, the district says, due to rising property values. Districts only collect the total amount, not the rate.
For example, Finley’s 2023 levy listed rate of $2.25 on the ballot when in reality it taxed a rate of $1.70.
District staff stress the proposed rates are “a near match” to what taxpayers are currently paying.
If the levy fails, Finley plans to cut all athletics programs, modify its student calendar and slash staff positions.
However, if voters approve levy funds, the district will still be faced with a $1 million shortfall to address. But administrators have a plan:
- Keep high school athletics, but make cuts to transportation, pause uniform replacements, summer camps, middle school programs and C teams.
- Reduce funds for clubs, including Students Against Drunk Driving, drama, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Leadership and band clubs.
- Cut certain supplemental curriculum and classroom subscriptions.
The Finley School Board last month adopted two resolutions allowing the district to explore a four-day school week beginning in the fall and to engage with the teacher’s union on position cuts.
Even if the levy passes, Finley plans to cut administrative salaries, five teacher positions and 10 classified support positions.
Finley School District listed the following revenue during the 2023-24 school year:
- $8.6 million in state basic education apportionment
- $3.5 million in state grants
- $1.5 million in federal grants
- $1.4 million in local operations levy
- $380,000 in levy state match
What levy advocates, opponents say
Community members arguing for the “pro” committee say the levy is “essential” to maintaining programs and staff that Finley schools depend on.
“It will also help ensure that all three schools in Finley School District remain open and operating as close to current levels as possible,” wrote Rory Bush, Jennifer Smith and Cathy Krug in the voters pamphlet.
“This replacement levy reflects a significant reduction in cost compared to past measures that recently failed, demonstrating the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while prioritizing student needs. Every dollar from this levy will go directly toward the programs and resources that make a difference in our schools,” they continued.
But Karen Skellenger, writing for the “con” committee, says higher tax burdens have resulted in hardships for she and her neighbors.
“I say let’s not pass this next year’s levy and ask the professionals at the school district to budget wisely and examine if we indeed need to pass more taxation on already overtaxed property owners, and support our school teachers and professionals in an affordable manner,” she wrote.
“As our entire country is forgoing transformation into accountability to our taxpayers, we should follow suit in our communities and hold our school to budget,” Skellenger continued, calling threats to cut programs “tiresome.”
Finley residents can register for the first time or change their registration online up until Monday, April 14. That’s at vote.wa.gov.
Filled out ballots must be returned to a county-certified drop box by 8 p.m. on election day.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM.
