Vote for school measures that fill funding gap

This editorial ran on Sunday, February 12, 2012

Voters are being asked to do what the state has not as the electorate considers a range of levy and bond issues on Tuesday's ballot. The election coincidentally comes after last month's state Supreme Court ruling that Washington is falling short in its "paramount duty" of funding public education.

As a result, school districts need to run operational levies just to keep basic programs going. Most of these hold estimated property-tax rates at roughly the same as they are now and essentially maintain schools' current offerings. Two districts, Selah and Naches Valley, are proposing bond measures to replace antiquated school buildings. The Yakima Herald-Republic, noting the importance of a strong public education system, recommends a yes vote on these measures.

The Yakima School District, with the Valley's largest school population, is seeking the area's largest levy amount.

The Yakima school board has put to the voters a replacement maintenance and operations levy that would raise about $54 million over the next four years. In 2008, the voters approved a four-year levy of about $50 million with a 60 percent yes vote. That levy, which expires at the end of this year, accounts for about 8 percent of the school's budget.

A levy defeat would not only deprive the schools of money that's coming in now, it would cost the district state levy-equalization money, which helps districts with low property-tax assessments. Superintendent Elaine Beraza said in event of a levy defeat, the district would look at cutbacks in security, transportation, instruction materials, fine arts, campus maintenance and sports.

The district forecasts its proposal would result in a phased increase of property-tax rates; the estimated rate would start at $2.92 per thousand dollars of assessed value in 2013, rising to $2.97 in 2016. The current rate is $3.07. If those rates hold, the owner of a $150,000 house would pay $438 in 2013. At the current rate, the owner of a $150,000 house pays $460.

The Herald-Republic previously has weighed in on school measures in three other districts and recommends their approval:

* West Valley is trying a new twist as it seeks a two-year replacement levy of $8.4 million. This proposal includes an extra $1.5 million as a contingency should the state eliminate or reduce levy-equalization funds. The district says it will authorize only what is necessary to maintain current programs.

The projected levy rate would rise from $2.95 to $3.59 per $1,000 in assessed value. Based on that, the owner of a $225,000 home -- the district average -- would pay $808 a year. That includes the extra cost of up to $144 a year to the homeowner from the $1.5 million to cover a possible loss of state money, pending what the Legislature does.

* Naches Valley is asking for both a replacement levy and capital bonds to build a new K-4 elementary school in Naches. The school would replace two aging structures that the district says are too expensive to renovate.

Both the levy and bonds are designed to keep the tax rates the same as now. The district foresees a levy rate of $535 per month for a $150,000 house. It would provide about $5.33 million over two years. The bonds would bring in $19.8 million over 25 years at an average cost of $222 per month for a $150,000 house.

* The Selah School District is trying again with a slimmed-down bond measure to replace Selah Junior High School. It would add six classrooms at Selah High School to accommodate the freshman class, build a new cafeteria/performance center and allow a districtwide reconfiguration of grades in each school.

The district's $30.5 million proposal trims $10 million from last year's version, and it assumes state matching funds of $18 million, bringing the total to $48.5 million. The estimated tax rate would stay at $1.23 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which comes to about $184.50 per year for a $150,000 home.

Districts up and down the Yakima Valley also are running replacement levies. These measures are as follows:

* Union Gap, a two-year levy totaling $2 million. The estimated assessed property-tax rate would be $2.85 per thousand in 2013. The owner of $150,000 house would pay $427.50 next year.

* East Valley, $8.8 million over two years. The estimated rate would be $3.03 per thousand in 2013; the owner of a $150,000 house would pay $454 in 2013.

* Mabton, $1 million over four years. The estimated rate would be $1.49 for each of the four years, resulting in the owner of a $150,000 house paying 223.50 next year.

* Sunnyside, $8.16 million over four years. The estimated rate would start at $1.58 per thousand and drop to $1.45 per thousand in 2016. The owner of a $150,000 house would pay $237 next year.

* Highland, $2.9 million over two years with an estimated rate of $3.60 in 2013. The owner of a $150,000 house would pay $540 in 2013.

* Granger, $1.88 million over three years, with an estimated rate of $2.49 per thousand. The owner of a $150,000 house would pay $373.50 next year.

* Zillah, $1.55 million over two years, with a rate of $2.24 next year. The owner of a $150,000 house would pay $336.24 in 2013.

* Wahluke, $2.7 million over two years, with a rate of $2.91 in both years. The owner of a $150,000 house would pay $436.50 next year.

The levies requires a 50 percent yes vote for passage; bond issues in Selah and Naches Valley need 60 percent yes. Voters have until Tuesday to mail in the ballots or drop them off at the Yakima County Courthouse.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Sharon J. Prill, Bob Crider, Frank Purdy and Karen Troianello.