Submitted by Lopez Island School District
On or about Jan. 24, ballots will be mailed out to Lopez Island School District voters seeking consideration of a four-year replacement Maintenance and Operations school levy to replace the current levy that will expire in 2014.
The levy is an important part of the district’s overall school budgeting, and helps fund up to approximately one quarter of the district’s annual budget. It helps pay for the day-to-day operation of the school, and supplements the money the district receives from the state, federal government, and other non-tax sources to pay for education of its students. This levy will replace the current levy that expires in 2014. The new replacement levy will last for four years and will cover 2015-2018. It is estimated to increase taxes on a $400,000 home a projected total of $24 in 2015 and up to $36 a year (over 2014) by 2018. This annual increase is to compensate for increased student enrollment and inflation. The total annual tax collection on a $400,000 house is projected to be approximately $292 in 2015, rising to $304 in 2018, from a current estimated $268.
The levy funds that the school district receives from this tax help pay for its ongoing educational programs in such areas as basic education (including additional board-approved staff beyond what the state pays for extracurricular activities, arts, athletics, enrichment), district-wide support and operations (including utilities, routine maintenance, custodial, etc.), food services (including farm-to-school), special education and bilingual, and student transportation. Levy funds may not be used for large capital improvements, such as proposed by the district last spring. Those projects are funded by bonds and the district has not yet determined when to again place a revised request for such bond funding before the voters.
This replacement levy provides important funding to the school district and is critical to the sustainability of many of the programs upon which Lopez students rely for their continued quality education. Contact district Superintendent Bill Evans at bevans@lopez.k12.wa.us, or 468-2292, for further information.
