Goldendale schools boosts levy request

GOLDENDALE, Wash. -- School officials here are asking voters to increase the amount they contribute toward maintenance and operations to make up for state funding cuts.

On a special Feb. 14 ballot, the Goldendale School District will ask voters to approve a two-year levy of $2.4 million per year for 2013 and 2014.

That's about $257,000 more total than the current levy, set to expire this December.

State lawmakers have cut education funding for the past two years and have proposed slashing more this year.

Meanwhile, the Goldendale district no longer qualifies for levy equalization funding because the rise of windfarms in Klickitat County has pushed overall assessed property values so high.

"We're no longer a cash-poor district," said Kay Hill, the district business manager.

That rise in property values also has driven tax rates down.

The district estimates the levy will spell a property tax rate of $2.05 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $205 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

That will mean a jump of 20 cents per $1,000 over the current 2012 levy of $185.

In 2010, when voters approved the 2011-12 levy at 64 percent passage, they agreed to a projected $2.49 per $1,000. However, the district ended up collecting less for both years because of jumps in property values.

Levy money in Goldendale will be spent on training, utilities, maintenance, textbooks, activities, technology and the addition of one physical education teacher, Hill said.

This year's maintenance and operations levy measure is unrelated to last year's $32 million construction bond for a new high school and upgrades to the middle school that voters overwhelmingly rejected with 74 percent saying no.

Goldendale schools'proposed M&O levy

                       2013 2014

Levy Amount* $2.4M $2.4M

Proposed rate** $2.05 $2.05

* Values in millions of dollars.

** Rate per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Source: Goldendale School District