Orchard Prairie School district asks for $230,000 in levy money

The Orchard Prairie School district is asking voters to approve a $230,000 two-year levy in February’s special election.

The two-year levy is a replacement for an existing maintenance and operation levy that pays for day-to-day district operations not covered by the state. The tax rate would be $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value, meaning the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 would pay $187.50 a year.

The district, one of the smallest in the county, is located northeast of Spokane.

“We’re feeling good about it,” said Superintendent Howard King. “We don’t go out and ask for more than we need.”

If the levy were not to be approved, King said it would be a challenge for the school to continue.

“We’ve got a good strong community,” he said. “They’ve been very supportive of schools in the past.”