Approve Prop. No. 1 – Vote Yes for Teachers, Educational Programs, Extracurricular Activities, and Support a Quality Education for Our Students

This levy will allow the district to continue to fund educational programs, extracurricular activities, and other necessary operational expenses, including staffing (i.e., nurses, librarians, custodians, counselors, safety officers, and teaching staff).

We want all students in the Riverview School District to continue to receive a quality education. The programs supported by the Educational Programs & Operations Levy play a key role in providing students with the resources needed to positively impact their learning experience.

Approve – Not a New Tax Prop. No. 1 replaces the levy that voters passed in 2018 and expires in 2022. Levies account for approximately 18% of the district’s general annual operating fund budget. Renew the levy to support our schools.
 

Submitted by: Lori Rush, Rebecca Manjarrez, Lindsey Tolson, riverviewschoolscommittee@gmail.com

In 2018, the McCleary Decision was promised to be a levy swap. Instead, state school property taxes increased dramatically and local school taxes never went away and are again spiraling out of control.

For 2020-2021, for the district's administrators, the median total compensation was $207,670 with a high of $361,768. Median teacher compensation is at $123,066 up 28% in the last 3 years - multiple times inflation.

The argument that this levy is for a certain few duty types is disingenuous and heartless at best. The district complains that this levy fills the gap left from state legislators. The legislators are correct in saying no to the district. Local voters should do the same.

Nearly all districts try to just focus on how our property tax rates will remain nearly flat as if that has or will do us any favors. A flat tax rate multiplied by skyrocketing assessed property values equals skyrocketing taxes in dollars (paid for by property owners and renters in their rents). Please provide your input and vote. More details at, www.schooldataproject.com

Submitted by: Jeff Heckathorn, info@schooldataproject.com

Riverview School District provides a comprehensive education experience above and beyond what the state funds. New state funding is a good start, but there are still gaps. This replacement levy ensures Riverview keeps programs and staff our students need and fills an 18% gap in state funding. Without it, existing programs will be cut. This levy allows our students to continue receiving a high-quality education and will replace the expiring levy. Vote Yes for Riverview!

Submitted by: Lori Rush, Rebecca Manjarrez, Lindsey Tolson, riverviewschoolscommittee@gmail.com

In 2019-2020, per pupil expenditures (including capital outlays and interest on debt) for the district were already at $15,642. That's above tuition and books at many universities let alone most private K-12 schools.

In 2018, because of the McCleary Decision, state legislators pumped billions more dollars into our public schools, largely from increased property taxes. There is no amount of money monopoly school districts will be satisfied with. Citizens are crying uncle. Enough!

Submitted by: Jeff Heckathorn, info@schooldataproject.com

Download the full text of the resolution 

Simple majority (Wash. Const. art. VII, sec. 2(a))

For questions about this measure, contact: Meisha Robertson, Director of Business and Operations, (425) 844-4505, robertsonm@rsd407.org