Four School Districts To Hold Levy Votes On Feb. 3

Spokane Valley school districts soon will ask taxpayers to approve levies for a variety of needs, ranging from new school buses to technology to day-to-day operating expenses.

On Feb. 3, Central Valley, East Valley, West Valley and Freeman school districts will all put maintenance and operations levies before voters. Central Valley also will ask voters to support a school bus levy. West Valley and Freeman each will ask for approval of a technology levy.

These two-year maintenance and operations levies will replace current levies, which were approved by voters in 1996. These levies help pay for almost every program in the schools - vocational education, athletics, music, art, lower class sizes and maintenance of buildings.

Tax rates on the two-year levies have bounced around a bit, partly because of changes the Legislature has agreed to in recent years, and partly because of increases in the overall property value base in certain school districts.

Central Valley’s proposed levy of $11.2 million in 1999 and $11.7 million in 2000 would translate into a tax rate of $3.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The current levy rate is $4.10 per thousand.

East Valley’s proposed levy of $4.8 million each year for 1999 and 2000 translates into a tax rate of $3.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The current rate is $3.72 per thousand.

West Valley’s proposal of $4.4 million in 1999 and $4.6 million in 2000 translates into a tax rate of $4.68 per $1,000 in 1999 and $4.78 per $1,000 in 2000. The current rate is $4.42 per $1,000.

Freeman’s proposal of $800,000 per year in both 1999 and 2000 translates into a tax rate of $4.35 per $1,000 each year. The current rate is $3.77 per $1,000.

In all cases, the actual dollar amount of the tax rate depends on the overall assessed value of property in the district.

In separate levies, Central Valley will also ask for about $900,000 over two years to replace 15 school buses. The tax rate for 1999 and 2000 on the school bus levy would be 15 cents per $1,000.

West Valley will ask for $1 million over two years to update and increase its schools’ technology. The tax rate for the technology levy would be 57 cents per $1,000. Improvements to technology are part of West Valley’s five-year strategic plan.

Freeman will ask for a five-year technology bond to raise $915,000, with a tax rate of 99 cents per $1,000. The district has a five-year technology plan.

, DataTimes