Letter: Levies critical for Tri-City schools

Ballots have arrived for the levy. Here’s the primer:

While bonds are to build or renovate buildings, levies are for operating schools in those buildings.

We have a current levy expiring that these two will replace. The rate is $0.43 less than the previous rate, but it is at the maximum rate allowed by the new state law. The technology supplemental levy is strictly for technology.

Speaking of the new state law, the state contribution to our school district will come in higher than in years past, but the money comes with strings on it as to how it can be spent. The idea is to somewhat level the educational playing field so that districts in economically depressed areas will have decent schools, as mandated by the court decision that the legislature was responding to.

The sum of the local levies plus the state money will be about $9 million shy of the previous $131M budget. Unless the value of your house goes way up, you will be paying less than previously.

Kennewick’s levy proposal is the same as Richland’s, and Pasco’s is the same as the main levy proposed, but without the technology supplemental levy.

Vote for them.

This story was originally published January 30, 2018 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Letter: Levies critical for Tri-City schools."