Camas Votes on Proposed School Levy This Tuesday; Facts on the Maintenance & Operations, Technology Levy

This coming Tuesday, February 12, Camas citizens are voting on a four-year school replacement Maintenance and Operations funding levy, which is designed to address state funding gaps.

The levy has multiple components – 1) Maintenance and Operation (M&O), which will allow the Camas School District to meet staff funding obligations; and 2) Technology, which covers the tangible and intangible, such as phone systems, laptops, 911 system, software licenses, etc.

The proposed M&O levy would collect $11.45 million, $11.8 million, $12.2 million, and $12.75 million each year over the next four years. And the proposed Technology levy would collect approximately $1.3 million each year over the next four years.

“We’re planning ahead to allow for growth as enrollment has had a 3-5 percent annual increase,” said Doreen McKercher, of the Camas School District. “We are having to cover things that used to be covered by the state, but now these things are on the local tax payer.”

McKercher said the largest items covered by the M&O are transportation (buses), special education, utilities (huge expense), and technology staff, which is an unfunded state mandate.

Helen Baller graduates Tony Lattanzi and Jefferson Jackson.

The state-of-the-art technology at Helen Baller is funding by the current
Technology Levy that was passed several years ago.

The levy proposes more money per assessed property value than previous levies, however, the actual total combined rates for all school taxes will be less than voters currently pay.

Taxpayers currently pay $.38 per $1,000 of assessed value for technology; $3.27 per $1,000 of assessed value on M&O; and $4.35 per $1,000 of assessed value on bonds. The current rates amount to $8.00 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The proposed rate in for 2014 is $7.32 per $1,000 of assessed value. And go forward at $7.44 for 2015, $7.55 for 2016, and $7.61 for 2017.

The proposed M&O levy is based on these factors:

A change in the way the state calculates its levy formula
Continued growth in enrollment, which increases operational costs
Rising fuel, utilities and insurance costs
Start-up costs for the new Woodburn Elementary School, which opens in Fall 2013.
Increase in the number of students participating in extracurricular programs and sports.

Current levies expire at the end of 2013, and Washington has decreased funding in key areas at the local level.

“This is not a new tax,” said McKercher. “We’re simply replacing expiring levies so we can maintain the high standards we have here in Camas.”

McKercher said students benefit with smaller class sizes, more textbooks, improved student safety, quality grounds, funding for extracurricular activities, and numerous other programs.

Common questions:

If the assessed values increase, can the district college more? No.
If the district increases in assessed value over the next four years, will your cost per $1,00 increase. No.
Can the levy amount be increased without a vote? No.

Ballots were mailed on January 24 and citizens are asked to vote on or by February 12.