School Tax Levy Rates Still Unsettled

State lawmakers still disagree over school tax levy rates, leaving Spokane school officials wondering whether they will be able to collect all the money from a levy approved by voters last year.

Spokane’s levy was approved under the assumption that lawmakers would extend a two-year-old increase in the maximum levy rate.

Until 1993, districts couldn’t collect more from local taxpayers than 20 percent of the total amount of money they received from the state and federal governments.

The Legislature that year allowed districts to take an additional 4 percent from local taxes for the 1993-95 biennium.

Many lawmakers say the extra 4 percent was a one-time deal, and schools should not have counted on it to continue when they sent levies to voters last year.

The House passed a bill two weeks ago that would extend the extra 4 percent rate for one year, allowing districts that had already passed levies to continue to collect that money, but requiring that future levies be limited to the 20 percent lid.

But Senate leaders pushed for a two-year extension of the 24 percent rate, arguing that schools need the extra money if local voters are willing to approve it. No agreement has been reached, leaving school districts that have already obtained voter permission for levies under the higher rate wondering if they’ll ever see the money.

Schools in Spokane County have warned that they would lose $12 million in property taxes already approved by the voters unless the Legislature continues the 24 percent levy lid.

Walt Rulffes, associate superintendent for the Spokane school district, said that schools need the local tax dollars to help pay for such items as elementary school counselors and dropout prevention programs, he said.

“If they’re worried, it’s their own fault,” said Rep. Grant Pelesky, R-Puyallup, a schoolteacher.

Pelesky said the state Legislature has provided enough money for local schools and it’s up to them to make sure the money is spent wisely.

Senate leaders want to preserve the 24 percent rate.

“I don’t think that we ought to be telling people that, even if 100 percent of the people in your district vote for a school levy, that you shouldn’t be able to spend it on that,” said Senate Minority Leader Sen. Dan McDonald, R-Bellevue.