Don’t let school levies – and WA matching money – slip away | Editorial

Eight school districts in Benton and Franklin counties have placed funding levies on the Feb. 10 special election ballot. We encourage residents in those districts to vote yes. The region’s children are counting on it.

A blanket endorsement is possible because all the measures are renewals of existing levies that will soon expire. They are not new taxes, merely replacements to provide fiscal stability. Staying the course with school funding is an easy decision.

Local school levies fill the gap between state funding and the real cost of education. Olympia pays for “basic education,” but it costs more to provide a well-rounded, safe and modern learning environment.

While wealthy communities easily raise enough money to close that gap, less-affluent communities struggle to do so.

The state therefore provides additional funding to them under the Local Effort Assistance program. The idea is simple. If local taxpayers demonstrate local commitment to education by taxing themselves, the state will match some of that revenue.

If any of the local levies on the February ballot fails to pass, the corresponding schools would lose not just the local revenue but also the state match.

Pasco School District is a good example. It is asking voters to approve a four-year renewal levy that would raise $35.5 million in 2027, the first year. The corresponding property tax rate is estimated to be $2.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of a $400,000 home would pay $868 annually.

The current levy qualifies the district for $14 million in Local Effort Assistance annually. If the renewal fails, that would disappear. The local revenue and state match total nearly $50 million, about 10% of the district’s total operating budget.

Such a loss would have a direct impact on the quality of education. The district would have to lay off teachers; cut classroom support; reduce funding for counselors, safety and custodians; trim extracurricular activities like the arts and sports; or all of the above.

Richland and Kennewick school districts face similar calculations but with an added wrinkle. Each district has two levies up for renewal. The first levy is an educational programs and operations levy (EP&O) that pays for core services.

The second levy would fund safety, security and instructional technology improvements. That includes things like improving alarms and perimeter security as well as acquiring computers, cybersecurity and other technology to facilitate modern learning.

Richland’s operating and technology levies combined would generate $52.6 million in the first year. The total property tax rate is $3 per $1,000 of assessed value or $1,200 annually on a $400,000 home. The operating levy qualifies for a $15 million state match.

Kennewick’s operating and technology levies combined would generate $38 million in the first year. The total property tax rate is $2.21 per $1,000 of assessed value or $884 annually on a $400,000 home. The operating levy qualifies for a $16.5 million state match.

Five smaller districts in the region also have renewal levies on the ballot, with most receiving state matches:

North Franklin School District is asking for $2.7 million in the first year of a two-year levy. The estimated rate will be $1.56 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Kahlotus School District is asking for $140,000 in the first year of a two-year levy. The estimated rate will be $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Grandview School District is asking for $3.3 million in the first year of its four-year levy. The estimated rate will be $1.65 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Washtucna School District is asking for $150,000 in the first year of a four-year levy. The estimated rate will be $1.43 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Othello School District is asking for $4.2 million in the first year of a four-year levy. The estimated rate will be $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

It bears repeating that none of these levies represent a tax increase. They renew the current taxes critical to filling the gap between what the Legislature pays and what education costs.

Voting no would leave local schools without the resources they need to educate children successfully.

Ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes around Jan. 23. Voters have until Feb. 10 to drop them off in an official drop box or mail them.

We urge a “yes” vote to support the schools that form the foundation of a thriving community and robust local economy.