East Valley schools asks for larger levy to stay the course

EAST VALLEY, Wash. -- East Valley School District is asking voters to approve a two-year maintenance and operations levy to raise $8.83 million. That is a 20 percent increase over the current two-year levy, which ends this year.

The boost is necessary to maintain the district's current programs for its 2,930 students, East Valley superintendent John Schieche says.

Since 2009, the district's state and federal funding has been cut by about $2.2 million. Its general budget this year is $25.5 million.

Schieche has cut operating expenses, extracurricular programs and staff, including teachers.

"We haven't really been able to keep it out of the classrooms," Schieche said. "We have fifth-grade classes of 30 students."

If the levy passes in the Feb. 14 election, East Valley would collect $4.26 million in 2013 and $4.56 million in 2014.

The district is projecting that property owners would pay a rate of $3.03 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2013 and $3.02 in 2014. The 2012 rate is $2.95.

Based on those projections, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $303 next year for the school levy.

But no one can guarantee a future levy rate, says Yakima County Assessor Dave Cook.

Rates are calculated each year based on the assessed value of all taxable property in a district and the amount of money to be collected by each levy.

"The rate is just a byproduct of the equation," Cook said.

If land values decline or a significant chunk of property becomes exempt from paying taxes for a voter-approved levy, then the rate for homeowners can go up, because the amount of money the levy collects doesn't change.

Cook has seen rates vary dramatically from projections to what is on tax bills. He points to East Valley School District as one example.

When the current levy was on the ballot in 2010, school district officials projected rates of $2.78 in 2011 and $2.75 in 2012.

This year, property owners will actually pay $2.95 per $1,000 of assessed value -- 20 cents more than the projection. In 2011, the actual rate was $2.77.

Typically, higher rates mean people are paying more in total, Cook said.

But the district has no choice, Schieche said. "That increase is basically to try to recoup some from the $2.2 million in cuts we've previously taken."

If the Legislature further reduces K-12 funding or if the levy doesn't pass, school officials will have to consider cutting programs "near and dear to the district's heart," Schieche said.

The levy money supports full-day kindergarten, Junior ROTC, elementary school counselors, maintaining class sizes and various extracurricular programs, among other expenses.

"Every program that is supplemental to the district would be considered" for cuts, he said.

So far, Schieche said, he has heard positive feedback from the community. There is no organized opposition.

"Nobody wants to see increases to their taxes, but I think they want a good education system, which needs levy money," he said.

That is how Pat Ray sees the situation as he goes over his tax return.

Like many retirees, he and his wife have seen their expenses rise while living on a fixed income.

"We go to the grocery store, it costs more. We go to the gas station, it costs more," he said.

Likewise, his tax bill keeps increasing, too.

"We just keep giving more and more of what we have," Ray said.

Even so, with two grandchildren in East Valley schools, he is voting for the levy.

"Well, I want to support the school district," he said.

East Valley School District’s proposed M&O levy
                                2013       2014
Levy Amount*          $4.26M    $4.56M
Projected rate**       $3.03      $3.02

* Values in millions of dollars.
** Rate per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Source: East Valley School District

* Contact Dan Catchpole at 509-577-7684 or dcatchpole@yakimaherald.com.