January 21, 2010

Ritzville schools to seek $881,000 M&O levy

The Ritzville School District is requesting voter approval for a replacement maintenance and operation levy on the special election ballot.

The school is proposing a levy amount of $881,000 for collection in 2011 and 2012. The approximate levy rate per $1,000 assessed value is $3.12.

An informational meeting is planned for next Thursday, Jan. 28, for citizens to learn more about the proposed levy as well as have the opportunity to ask the district’s administration and board questions.

The one-hour meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the high school band room.

The school board unanimously agreed to host the meeting during its meeting Tuesday night where Interim Superintendent Bill Thurston distributed a draft levy information sheet for the board to review.

Thurston reiterated that the requested $881,000 maintenance and operation levy would fund programs not funded by the state.

Thurston noted that a levy is not an additional tax but rather a replacement of the existing levy for schools that citizens passed in 2008. The current levy expires this year and the new one takes over in 2011.

Levies and levy equalization funds provide the district about 18 percent of the budget, filling the gap between what the district receives from the state or federal government and what is paid for programs required by law but not fully funded by any other source.

Special school levies are revenue sources that Washington state school districts are allowed to use to supplement and enrich the basic education program.

The current outlook for education funding from the state is unclear as the Legislature will once again face a budget shortfall this session.

In 2009, the Legislature adopted an operating budget that solved a $9 billion shortfall. But since that budget was adopted, projections indicate another shortfall of nearly 2.6 billion in 2010.

The Ritzville School District has made adjustments and cuts, and plans more cuts, due to the reduced state funding.

A maintenance and operation levy supports those areas that are not fully funded by state or federal monies: classroom needs, school support, technology, student activities and sports programs, building maintenance and utilities and equipment replacement.

School district levies differ from other taxing districts. The amount the school district requests is exactly what it will receive. For other taxing districts, the amount received depends on the assessed valuation.

Voters in the Ritzville School District approved in 2008 by 288 votes. The levy approved in 2008 was $770,000 per year.

The district is collecting $206.25 based on an assessed valuation of $75,000 under the current M&O levy. If the two-year levy is approved, the district would collect about $234, which is an increase of $27.75.