Advocates of a property tax that would raise money for early-child learning, abuse prevention, treatment and other programs have submitted more than 12,600 signatures in support of placing the levy on the November ballot.

Supporters of the initiative, which is called the Spokane Children’s Investment Fund Levy for Families and Youth, collected 771 sheets of signatures that they turned in to the city clerk’s office on Thursday.

The issue needs 8,334 valid signatures to earn a public vote.

The Spokane City Council will vote on July 12 if it will place the idea on the ballot, ask the county election’s office to validate signatures first or declare it illegal.

The council usually orders a review by the election’s office when asked to consider an initiative.

The tax, which would raise $5 million annually, would cost the owner of a $100,000 property $35 a year.

Voters in nine Spokane area school districts and the city of Spokane have tax measures they are being asked to cast ballots on by Tuesday evening.

Most Spokane city voters have four measures on their ballot. The Spokane School District, which covers much of the city and spills outside its borders in some areas, is asking voters to renew a maintenance and operations levy and approve a $288 million bond issue to pay for the next phase of a school renovation program. The city has an $18.5 million bond issue to handle several criminal justice projects, including a new evidence warehouse, animal control facilities and municipal courts.

The Cheney, Deer Park, Liberty, Mead, Medical Lake, Nine Mile Falls and Riverside school districts also have levy renewals. Reardan-Edwall has a capital projects levy, and the town of Rosalia has a park and recreation levy.

Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by Tuesday. They can also be deposited, minus a stamp, in a drop box set up by the County Elections office at most public libraries.

Drop box locations are inside the blog:

The people supporting the ballot measures for the Spokane School District seem to be intent on proving that the community needs to be spending more money on education. It seems they would not last long on that FOX-TV game show, “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?”

They keep making the mistakes that would earn students in the District 81 classrooms a failing grade.