Here are the uses to which each Spokane Valley school district would put its construction bond money and the tax rates property owners could expect to pay for the bonds.
In each case, the tax rate includes payments on not only the bond issue up for election on Feb. 6, but previous bonds. Payments on the previous bonds are dropping, which is why the increase in this tax rate is sometimes very small. In East Valley's case, for instance, the tax rate for bonds would increase only 4 cents, if voters approve their bond.
Still, if Valley voters pay these bonds, they will pay more in taxes overall. That's because the county assessor has determined that property values continue to rise.
Central Valley bond: $23.28 million would pay for a new 600-student elementary school at Liberty Lake ($9.7 million), complete renovation of Bowdish Junior High ($7.8 million), heating, ventilation and outdoor physical education improvements at both South Pines Elementary and University High School ($1 million), and capital improvement projects throughout the district, including energy conservation, paving, sewer and disability access work ($4.8 million).
The tax rate for Central Valley bonds, would increase 45 cents per $1,000 of property value to $1.70 per $1,000 in 1997 and 1998. That means the owner of a $100,000 house would pay $170 for the bond issue.
East Valley bond: $11.97 million would add 16 new classrooms to district schools, plus pay for renovation of Trent Elementary. That does not include $2.5 million in matching funds the district expects to receive from the state to complete the work on Trent. East Valley and Mountain View middle schools would each get two new classrooms, increasing each school's capacity from 600 students to 650. Skyview Elementary would gain eight new classrooms and Otis Orchards Elementary would gain four. Skyview capacity would increase from 400 to 600. Otis Orchards capacity would increase from 400 to 500. East Valley High School would gain at least one music room and other space for creative arts.
The tax rate for East Valley bonds would increase just 4 cents per $1,000 of property value, to $2.27 per $1,000 in both 1997 and 1998. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $227 each year.
West Valley bond: $4.2 million would add 16 new classrooms to existing elementary schools. Pasadena Park, Ness and Orchard Center elementary schools each have a present building capacity of 275 students. Seth Woodard Elementary has a 300-student capacity. Each school would gain room for nearly 100 more students if the new classrooms are built.
The tax rate for West Valley's bond would increase 45 cents per $1,000 of property value to $2.09 per $1,000 in 1997. So the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $209 on bonds that year. That rate would drop 17 cents per $1,000 in 1998.
