School levy ballots must be mailed today

If they haven’t already, Deer Park residents must mail their ballots to vote on a $24.1 million bond issue to expand and modernize Deer Park High School.

Stevens County school levy ballots must be postmarked today.

The Deer Park bonds would pay for new classrooms, a second gym, an auditorium, and to upgrade the heating and air conditioning system at Deer Park High School. Similar ballot issues failed in 2002 and 2005.

In Stevens County, the Colville, Kettle Falls and Northport school districts are seeking levies.

The Colville School District cut its budget by almost $1 million last year when its operations levy failed.

The district is now seeking about $2 million a year for the next three years.

The Kettle Falls levy would bring $892,000 a year for four years. The district narrowly passed a levy in 2005.

Northport is asking voters for $115,000 in 2008 and 2009.