Group targets Central Valley school bond, levy

Bright yellow fliers encouraging a “no” vote on Central Valley School District’s bond and levy are arriving in mailboxes this week.

Bold, black lettering states that the district wants voters to approve $269 million in “new” taxes and lists alarming tax rates for homeowners without clear explanation or acknowledgement that tax bills likely wouldn’t increase if the bond and levy pass. The Citizens for Responsible Taxation campaign headed by retired tire business owner Duane Alton is what school district officials often fear will arrive in mailboxes about the time ballots are sent.

“It’s unfortunate and disappointing,” said Marty Dickinson, co-chair of the Citizens for Central Valley Education committee. “For Central Valley, it is time for us to pass this bond. It’s been 16 years.”

So far, only Central Valley School District residents have received the fliers. Numbers on the one-page, two-sided mailer indicate if a person has a home valued at $100,000 the district’s bond and levy would cost them $4,988.

The mailer does not clarify that the amount listed is what the property owner would pay over the full life of the proposed 20-year bond and three-year levy. Alton said that he’s doing his part to let voters know that their decision will cost taxpayers and force them to adjust their budgets.

But bond and levy supporters say the flier is misleading.

Superintendent Ben Small said the bond would cost $196 annually on a property valued at $100,000. The levy is estimated to cost $356 annually for property valued at the same amount. He noted that levy amounts often end up being less than what voters approve.

The bond and levy would not be new to the district. Both would replace expiring taxes that property owners have been paying. The district estimates that taxes would not rise if the levy and bond are approved. Dickinson and Small are frustrated with the “no” campaign, yet confident voters understand the need.

“Before proposing a bond or a levy, Central Valley School District officials engaged its community, parents and other voters to find out what they considered the priorities,” Dickinson said. “The school district came back and said they could do what they wanted without raising taxes.”

While it seems Alton’s group is targeting Central Valley School District, he may have plans for other districts.

“We’ll see,” he said. “We are working on that now.”

Spokane County mailed ballots for the Feb. 10 election late last week. Five school districts – Spokane Public Schools, Cheney, Nine Mile Falls, Central Valley and Mead – are seeking bond approval from voters for school construction and upgrades.

Twelve of Spokane County’s 14 school districts are asking voters to renew school levies. In each proposed levy, the tax rate would not change.