School, Library Funding At Stake

Voters decide today whether they want to spend more money on schools, improved county library services and fire district operations.

Polls throughout Eastern Washington open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The major ballot measure in Spokane County is the Spokane School District’s two-year levy that officials say provides almost 20 percent of the operating budget.

The levy, if it gets 60 percent approval and 20,748 validating votes, would generate about $64 million from district property taxes in 1997 and 1998.

Supporters have spent about $60,000 urging approval. No formal opposition has organized.

Voters in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County also get to vote on a $7.66 million, 10-year levy for two new branch libraries, assorted improvements and an updated computer system.

More than a dozen smaller school districts around the region have similar maintenance-and-operation levies on the ballot. County voters will see levy proposals for East Valley, West Valley and Central Valley schools. Also on the list are two-year levies for Freeman and Liberty school districts.

All have the same requirements: 60 percent approval and at least 40 percent of the votes cast in the November general election.

Fire districts around the area are also counting on taxpayer support. Fire District 1 in the Spokane Valley is submitting a $5.7 million, one-year levy that is the same as one approved the past five years.

Fire District 10, which provides coverage in the Airway Heights area, is asking voters there to approve a six-year levy raising about $110,000 for improved emergency medical services.

, DataTimes