Voters to have their say in school bond measures, school levy

Residents of the West Valley, Sunnyside and Toppenish school districts have until Tuesday to vote in a special election.

West Valley and Sunnyside school districts are asking voters to approve bond measures, and Toppenish citizens will vote on a school levy. Bond issues require a 60 percent approval, while the levy passes with 50 percent "yes" votes.

Roughly 28,000 ballots were mailed last month, according to the Yakima County Auditor's office.

West Valley is seeking a $28 million bond to rebuild two elementary schools, Apple Valley and Summitview. The cost would be $2.23 per $1,000 of assessed property value, when combined with existing bond debt. The 20-year bond would qualify for $8 million in state matching funds.

In Sunnyside, the $11.4 million bond would add on to both Sunnyside High School and Sun Valley Elementary School. The tax rate of $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed property value would be the same as it is now.

That's because for the past 10 years or so, the school board has decided to collect only levy funds or bond funds but not both at the same time, Curtis Campbell, district spokesman, said in January.

So, the district will use state funds from an existing maintenance and operation levy to pay off the bond debt. The last levy two years ago raised $5 million in state matching, or levy equalization, funds.

The 20-year bond would qualify for $35 million in state matching funds.

The Toppenish School District is asking for a four-year, $4.4 million maintenance and operations levy. It would replace an expiring levy and keep a variety of programs in place, along with equipment upgrades. State matching funds would provide about $4 million; the tax rate would be $2 per $1,000 of assessed property value, the amount taxpayers currently pay.

For the two bond issues to be valid, at least 40 percent of the voters from the November general election must fill out ballots. This equates to at least 5,904 West Valley residents voting, with 3,542 voting "yes."

In Sunnyside, a minimum of 2,024 people must vote, with 1,214 voting "yes."

A minimum turnout is not required for levy elections.

Voters have until Tuesday to postmark their ballots, or they can vote in person at one of three sites:

* Yakima County Auditor's office, 128 N. Second St., Room 117, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

* Sunnyside Work Source, 1925 Morgan Road, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Tuesday only.

* Toppenish Middle School, 104 Goldendale Ave., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Tuesday only.

All three are considered designated accessibility sites, which means people who need language assistance or who have physical impairments can receive help.