Straight A's -- all Yakima Valley levy measures passing

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Despite the belt-tightening times, it's a resounding yes.

Maintenance and operations levies at 12 school districts throughout Yakima County are passing -- most of them by more than 60 percent, according to preliminary vote totals released Tuesday night. So are levies at another nine school districts in neighboring counties.

In all, each of the 23 local proposals are passing.

"I'm very excited for all of us, all the school districts. We're all in the same boat with needing this funding. It's just very much a relief," said Chris Scacco, assistant superintendent of the Selah School District, as she was leaving the Yakima County Courthouse on Tuesday night. "I'm pleased that the result is positive for all of us."

In most cases, the proposed rates represent slight increases.

And it's a tough time to be asking voters for more money.

With the state facing a $2.6 billion budget shortfall, tax hikes -- as well as cuts to education funding -- are on the table during the current legislative session. At the same time, M&O levies are expiring in many counties across the Yakima Valley.

M&O levies help school districts bridge the gap between the monies they receive from the state and the actual cost of operating schools. They fund everything from teachers' salaries and textbooks to technology and transportation.

And they need a simple majority to pass.

In the Mt. Adams School District, preliminary results show voters approving their levy by 76 percent, the largest margin among the Yakima Valley districts. The Wahluke and Kittitas school districts were both passing at about 55 percent, representing the lowest margin of victory. Wahluke draws it voting support from Grant County, but draws some students from Yakima County as well.

"I'm extremely gratified that we have a vote of confidence in what we are doing at the Mt. Adams School District," said Superintendent Rick Foss. "People voted for it even in these most trying economic times. Having people step up and say let's move it forward is absolutely gratifying."

With the tough economy and state budget woes, school districts statewide are facing cuts -- even with the passing levies.

Levies in Selah and West Valley come with some of the largest price tags. The Selah School District, for example, is asking voters for $15 million over three years.

"Normally, I'd be pretty darn confident because we have had so many years of support from the community," Scacco said. "But in light of the current economy, you just can't take anything for granted."

She admitted she was feeling a bit anxious throughout the day Tuesday. That feeling went away when she saw the preliminary results showing the Selah levy passing with 65.8 percent voter approval.

"It really shows the community overall understands the importance of M&O levies and that they do help fill the gap from what the state doesn't fund for us. We're not sufficiently funded," she said, adding that state budget cuts could diminish up to 7 percent of the district's budget during this Legislative session. "We're facing what could be some very darn deep cuts from the state."

In addition to its M&O levy, the Naches Valley School District is asking voters to approve a technology and capital projects levy. Both are passing.

"I'm grinning from ear to ear," superintendent Duane Lyons said while driving home from the courthouse late Tuesday. "It's great to have the kind of support this community gives us, gives to the children."

The sentiment was similar in West Valley, where levy committee chairman Dale Carpenter and superintendent Peter Ansingh were celebrating at Carpenter's home.

"I'm in euphoria right now," Carpenter said. "We basically told people, 'You made an investment. We're asking you to continue that.' It was a really simple message, and it was one from the heart."

Ansingh thanked voters for their support: "They understand the state does not fully fund our needs. They continue to allow us to offer the quality programs that we do. They understand these are difficult economic times, and districts are facing reductions from the state. This will help soften that."

In Grandview, superintendent Kevin Chase said he was pleased, but not surprised, voters supported his district's four-year proposal. He said he could sense the support in the days leading up to the election.

Grandview was one of four districts locally seeking a four-year levy.

"It was not just the normal pro-education crowd, but I saw it from all corners," he said.

Levy supporter Brad Smith said Grandview area residents know that levy money helps pay for activities like music and sports, which help engage kids in their communities.

"We think we have a gang problem now, imagine what it would be like without those extracurricular activities," he said.

In Prosser, a group of about 20 levy supporters cheered in the basement of First Presbyterian Church with the news the district's two-year levy is overwhelmingly passing.

In fact, it's passing with the highest percentage superintendent Ray Tolcacher can remember in his 18 years in Prosser. The last time the district cracked 70 percent was in the mid-1990s when the economy was stronger.

"We know how tough this is for a lot of the voters," said Tolcacher, who returned Tuesday from Olympia after testifying to lawmakers about the importance of levy equalization money.

"We still don't know about equalization," he said.

With levy proposals, additional funding is at stake. School districts throughout Yakima County rely on levy equalization funds, given by the state if voters approve levies.

That funding is intended to provide equity between property-rich and land-poor school districts. Property-rich districts are able to run levies at lower tax rates yet rake in more money than land-poor districts.

Of the 295 school districts in the state, 220 -- including all 15 in Yakima County -- depend on levy equalization funds. In light of the state budget crunch, school administrators statewide are watching to see if the Legislature will continue to fund levy equalization.

Meantime, the Rev. Paul Fredericks, an organizer with a levy support committee in Prosser, said the tough economic times and uncertainty of state funding may have made people even more supportive than usual:

"I think people dug down and said, 'Well it's up to us.'"

* Reporters Ross Courtney and Phil Ferolito contributed to this story.