Spokane7
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November 29, 2011 in City
Anatomy of a levy
Spokane County school districts hope voters help pay the bills
Isabella Lomas, foreground, plays her viola with the orchestra class taught by Angus Nunes, far left, at Jefferson Elementary School on Nov. 17. Funding for elementary music programs is likely in jeopardy if February’s levy fails.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
Three-year levies in 13 of Spokane County’s school districts will expire at the end of 2012, and voters will likely be asked to continue the taxes – plus tack on a few more cents to compensate for state budget cuts. Given the economic climate and threats of further state budget cuts, education officials are concerned about the prospect for success on the ballot. The deadline for including a three-year levy on the Feb. 14 ballot is Dec. 30. Below is a breakdown of how school levy dollars are spent in Spokane, and what failure of the ballot measures would mean.
What is a levy?
Levies are the community-supported portion of a school district’s budget. The tax does not pay for construction; bonds cover that activity.
The programs supported by the levy are what the state defines as “non-basic education.” However, the levy pays for what the general population considers a basic school experience such as smaller class sizes and school sports.
What’s at stake?
Without the levies, a school district would lose 20 to 25 percent of its current budget. For Spokane Public Schools, that would mean more than $73 million a year.
Educational programs
The breakdown of each school district’s levy varies, but according to a recent statewide study, how the money is divided among programs is similar. The largest portion of the tax, about 80 percent on average, supports educational programs: drop-out prevention; smaller class sizes, which includes supplementing salaries for teachers and support staff; custodial staff; library positions; online learning; a number of administrative positions; school resource officers; elective classes in high school; and elementary school art and music programs.
Transportation
On average, between 4 and 6 percent of levy funds supplement student transportation to and from school or activities.
Extracurricular activities
Around 4 to 6 percent of the funds are directed toward sports; clubs such as debate, yearbook and DECA; and intramural activities.
Special education
Special education programs are also supplemented by levies, but the percentage varies by district based on the number of students in that category. For Spokane Public Schools, it’s 5 percent of the levy.
The other 2 percent
The remaining 2 percent is used for other programs and services, such as programs for gifted-and-talented education and English language learners.
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Notapatriot on November 29 at 5:39 a.m.
Let them eat cake.
JBlim on November 29 at 5:50 a.m.
Sounds like a good investment in our children and our community. I can’t believe some misguided people would be so miserly as to shortchange our children’s future.
SpokaneLiberal on November 29 at 6:24 a.m.
I was having a debate with a woman at work the other day. She was on a government grant funded position, she gets a tiny bit of food stamps, she has full day kindergarten, she gets free lunches for her kid - who is on state medical. She works full time and she says she won’t support the levy or the proposed sales tax hike because she already pays enough in taxes. She stands to lose (possibly) her job, he food stamps, her daycare (aka Kindergarten) and her medical insurance for her kid - but to save .5% on the small percentage of things she buys subject to sales tax she would slit her own throat. It is crazy the way people have been brainwashed on taxes. They are not always bad, the government doesn’t always have enough revenue, and waste isn’t always the problem.
greyhound2 on November 29 at 6:39 a.m.
With public schools, there is no correlation between the amount funded and the results produced.
dtmelin on November 29 at 7:14 a.m.
@ greyhound2, can you cite an actual study that presents that information? I’ve heard people saying that same thing, but have never heard anyone say how that conclusion was reached.
dtmelin on November 29 at 7:26 a.m.
Nevermind, found study by heritage.org. Interesting. As a state, though, we are significantly below the national avg. In per-pupil spending, & I know our state has been ranked #1 in avg. SAT scores for the past few yrs. So I’m not sure their conclusions apply that well to our local districts. Cutting music, sports, raising class sizes locally (on top of what the state is already proposing) seems like a sure way to degrade our local schools, & minimizes the positive impacts they are having…
Open_Spokane on November 29 at 7:27 a.m.
It’s time our best and brightest educator’s develop and implement ways to provide better education at less cost.
There are many dedicated educators that go above and beyond for their students. I would hope that they are retained at the expense of the tenured and self serving dead wood that is sinking our schools.
Benaround on November 29 at 7:38 a.m.
dtmelin:
We don’t need no stiiinking study. I would like you to go to
any inner-city public school in America…I Would like you to
go alone and unarmed with no bodyguard. Be sure to park
your car near the school.
At that point I would remind you a variation of what Groucho
Marx said: Are you going to believe the Teacher’s Union…or believe your OWN LYING EYES.
#2) Thank you S/R for well written-informative article.
#3) I like and support local levies because its our money spent
on our kids. I don’t like the Federalization of public schools.
My Federal tax spent by Feds on public schools is money
NOT well spent.
The_Seer on November 29 at 7:58 a.m.
benaround: I missed number one in your latest rant? Is Spokane an “inner city”? Are you really that scared when you are around teenagers? They are just like the rest of us, only younger and with worse skin.
Wait for the Duane Altons in our midst to attempt killing these levy requests.
woamike on November 29 at 8:16 a.m.
“The_Seer”
Poster boy for why sane people will not vote “yes” on a Spokane school levy.
Note to Spokane area schools: No money until you change the status quo. No more throwing good money after bad.
Unless fundamental changes are made, NO amount of money will “fix” the schools.
cdspokesreader on November 29 at 8:32 a.m.
Why is it that the PR people for the school district always tug at our heartstrings with these stories when they need money. I understand that these are really important programs that really help a lot of kids. My own children have benefited from these programs. I would hate to lose them.
But….why can’t we take a look at some of the budgeting for other district expenses for these programs. Explain to me how a school principal should be making $100,000 a year in Spokane. I won’t even begin to comment on the bloated administrative offices downtown. If these levies fail, the people with these overinflated salaries should be ashamed of themselves for robbing the children of these programs.
Benaround on November 29 at 8:41 a.m.
The Paragraph prior to the #2 listing… is probably point
#1.
Inner-city school neighborhoods are subject to crime and
having your car ending up in 12 cardboard boxes within hours.
Per capita student spending can be similar in several schools
with drastically different measurable results, indicating our
public school quality problems are not exclusive to spending.
I have an allergy to hateful- obscenity laced comments that
occasionally end up in these comments sections in an an
apparent attempt to stifle any rational discussions. I therefore
declare you some kind of “winner”…and I will with-hold further
comment.
Lulubelle on November 29 at 8:54 a.m.
My kids have long since graduated from the public school system, gone on to college and good careers. Fortunately we lived in an area (Northshore school dist) that valued education and always supported bonds and levies. The kids all received a great education, participated in sports, and had access to art and music programs. Because of the support, involvement and expectations of their parents and community they were also made aware of their responsibility for getting a good education.
In my case, it’s time to pay it forward and support current and future public school children. I hope Spokane’s kids can count on the taxpayers like mine did.
johnclarke on November 29 at 9:30 a.m.
“public-school administrators remain among the county’s highest-paid public employees. Spokane, Mead and Central Valley school districts together have 133 administrators who earn more than $100,000 annually”
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/06/school-administrators-pay-among-highest-in-county/
Really ! 133 administrators ? Considering the median income for a teacher is around 52k, I’d say let’s eliminate a few of those positions and fund two teaching positions instead.
Seriously, what is so complicated about schools that we need 133 administrators pulling down that kind of money? The HR director makes 175k. I’d say something is seriously wrong with this picture.
mtharves on November 29 at 9:30 a.m.
The state legislature is constitutionally tasked with “fully funding” Basic Education in this state. Apparently, legislators still get to pick and choose what is Basic Education, hence the levies. Why things like transportation, special ed, elective classes for HS (think higher science and math), art and band for elementary schools, librarians, and most of the other things listed in the article are not considered Basic Eduction is beyond me.
Yes, I would agree with others that many school districts seem to be administration heavy and this needs to be looked into but it is not a reason to vote no on a levy. Support your local schools with your money and your time.
woamike on November 29 at 9:42 a.m.
“Yes, I would agree with others that many school districts seem to be administration heavy and this needs to be looked into but it is not a reason to vote no on a levy. Support your local schools with your money and your time.”
No. It IS one of the reasons to vote “No”. If we keep throwing money at them there will be no reason for them to change.
They will ONLY wake up when the money stops.
Continuing to fund levies under the current circumstances is like giving a drink to a drunk.
DickAdams on November 29 at 9:43 a.m.
With the likes of Roco Treppiedi, sitting on the district 81 board, and without question, is helping to call the shots for the district, its no wonder we hear the rubbish the board regurgitates to suck more money from the taxpayers. The taxpayers overwhelming, living in the Lilac City want Treppiedi fired!! ASAP!
I also WONDER how many teachers skipped school yesterday to take a trip (junket) to demonstrate with all the other teachers trek to Olympia, and skipped school? As the signs that are common when a ballot issue wants more money say, “Vote yes for the kids” ???
DickAdams on November 29 at 9:54 a.m.
Sorry for saying overwhelming meant to say overwhelmingly.
The_Seer on November 29 at 10:06 a.m.
wormlike: I’d like to see radical changes as well. Here is my proposal:
Washington will have a single school district for each county. One superintendent. One human resource office. One clear set of measurable curricular goals. One everything.
reservedparking on November 29 at 10:19 a.m.
So tell us, what’s a reasonable salary for a school principal? They, too, are ‘administrators’, although they don’t work @ HQ.
You may have a point on the administrative costs & numbers of people - I don’t have enough facts to have an opinion.
Perhaps consolidating some school districts & combining/reducing some administrative costs would be worth looking into?
RedCedar on November 29 at 10:32 a.m.
JC, you’re sounding like a conservative here.
Here’s my problem. I’m a big believer in having good public schools. I always vote for the school levy. However, I strongly resent the way the school districts are always trying to manipulate the electoral process and manipulate the voters. They do the former by trying to get the school levy on its own ballot, with nothing else on with it, and then quietly working to make sure that only levy supporters find out about the election and go to the polls. They do the latter by “tugging at our heartstrings”, threatening to cut the most popular school programs if the levy fails, and refusing to acknowledge, much less deal with, all the administrative waste and the bureaucratic overhead that has pushed actual per-pupil costs at bad public schools well above the tuition at a good private school.
I don’t blame the school district administrators and PR people for getting sympathetic stories in the newspaper and for talking up how great their schools are, but I wish they would then respect my intelligence by showing me their budget numbers, showing me what they intend to do with the money, and explaining why it’s important. Skip all the emotional stuff that makes it sound like school teachers are all selfless saints and if you don’t vote for the school levy, you hate children.
johnclarke on November 29 at 10:34 a.m.
Best idea ever Seer, how do we get that on the ballot?
I have an issue with this entire levy concept. Typically you have a well funded side selling it with “yes to save lives” or “yes for kids” and no opposing view. When you get EMS renewal, there are union purchased billboards, signs and the people that benefit directly standing on corners. People rarely take time to educate themselves on the facts, and based on the one pov, the stuff gets voted in.
liveinfearoftheSPD on November 29 at 10:35 a.m.
Cut out the sports, music, arts and any other non-essential programs that do nothing to educate children. Let the parents of the kids that want the extra curricular activities foot the bill for their own children. Concentrate on teaching the children about the real world, not so much emphasis on past history. Give them the tools to make a living in today’s world. Teach them right from wrong, teach them that racism in any form is not acceptable, since far too many parents are not teaching their children anything. Sports, et al, set too many children up for failure. I know far too many kids that have graduated and and can barely read, their spelling is atrocious. Cut the fat and they will have an abundance of money from the taxes they already receive. There are so many things that should be taught that aren’t. The school system needs a complete overhaul, we need to rethink what our children should be taught.
johnclarke on November 29 at 10:38 a.m.
RedCedar on November 29 at 10:32 a.m.
JC, you’re sounding like a conservative here.
Hey, no reason to start namecalling :).
My fine friend, we are ALL conservative when it comes to our tax dollars. The problem is finding conservative politicians. They call themselves such, but outspend the “liberals.” The big difference is the Democrats actually pay for all that spending with appropriate tax structures, at least the last one did. No worries, I’m sure that Laffer curve will take effect….any decade now.
spnelson on November 29 at 7:20 p.m.
Paybacks are a bitch, aren’t they? You can COUNT ON me voting against any future levy.In this last election, Spokane overwhelmingly voting down a new animal shelter… so let me get this right… hating dogs is ok, but when your little darling children need more of my money, I’m just supposed to bend over? Stray dogs vs. the wonderful children of this town.Hmmm…. thanks, I’ll take Rover. Is the dropout rate in Spokane still around 30%? Yeah, more money is going to solve that.
spnelson on November 29 at 7:24 p.m.
By the way, the man in the banner ad for Asuris medical on this page is a school administrator.
JBlim on November 29 at 9:31 p.m.
greyhound2 says: “With public schools, there is no correlation between the amount funded and the results produced.”
Well, surely, then, we don’t need to spend anything at all! There is no correlation between the amount funded and the results produced so that would work out just fine in the no-common-sense-at-all Republican tax-free fantasy land, where government services, the military, education, roads, law enforcement, courts and everything else is FREE! And that’s really convenient for us cheap skate, miserly Repuglicans too!
misjustice on November 29 at 10:18 p.m.
With all of the recent articles on the administrative fat in the school budgets I’m hard pressed to vote “yea” on another levy request.
My suggestion if promoters of the levy want it to pass?
Cut the admin fat FIRST, and I’ll vote “yea”…any new requests for money should go towards the teachers and the kids; not the over bloated salaries of too many admin positions, IMO…
JBlim on November 30 at 9:30 p.m.
I’m sorry to see you sympathetic with the dim bulbs on the right. What articles? I hope you’re not referring to articles from that corporate rag, the Spokesman Review . . .
laurierogers on January 23 at 10:19 p.m.
For actual data, links, and supported information about the budget and the levy in Spokane Public Schools, please see my article:
“Yes, vote for kids by asking the adult questions about school levies”:
http://betrayed-whyeducationisfailing.blogspot.com/2012/01/yes-vote-for-kids-by-asking-adult.html
Laurie Rogers, Spokane