Support Ki-Be replacement levy to prevent devastating cuts | Editorial

Kiona-Benton City School District students paid a steep price for voters’ reluctance to support local education funding in February. Now the district is back asking voters to reconsider. We urge voters to support Proposition 1 to prevent even more cuts..

The current two-year operating levy expires at the end of 2025. Prop. 1 would replace it at the same rate. There is no tax rate increase. That works out to an estimated $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate is actually lower than it was in 2017.

Voters narrowly rejected a similar replacement levy in February. That measure failed by only 50 votes.

Without funding lined up, district leaders had to cut $1.5 million from this year’s budget. Casualties included a high school counselor, an elementary counselor, a nurse, three teachers and an administrator. C-Squad athletic teams were eliminated, and extracurricular transportation ended. Art instruction vanished when a teacher retired.

If voters reject Prop. 1, the district will face another $1 million in cuts. The consequences would be devastating. Most sports programs as well as high school band and choir would end. Middle school electives, including STEM and robotics, would be canceled. Elementary schools would reduce physical education, art and computer classes.

State funding does not cover all of the expenses of a robust, fulfilling education. Local levies bridge the gap, funding athletics, music, technology, smaller class sizes and more. They also help schools secure state matching funds through the Local Effort Assistance program. About 4% of the district’s operating budget comes from local taxes.

Ki-Be has spent taxpayer dollars responsibly all while maintaining the same levy rate despite increasing costs. Voters should give the district the resources it needs to continue to provide a quality education for all students. Vote Yes on Prop. 1.