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Tahoma School District No. 409

Proposition No. 1
Replacement of Existing Educational Programs and Operations Levy

The Board of Directors of Tahoma School District No. 409 adopted Resolution No. 2013-28 concerning educational funding.  This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following excess taxes, to replace an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, to support the District’s educational programs and operations:

 

Collection
Years

Approximate
Levy Rate/$1,000
Assessed Value

Levy
Amount

2015

$3.69

$16,336,987

2016

$3.69

$16,990,466

2017

$3.69

$17,670,085

2018

$3.69

$18,376,888

 

all as provided in the Resolution.  Should this proposition be approved?

Yes

No


This levy replaces one that expires at the end of 2014. This levy pays for school staff, education programs, classroom support, athletics, maintenance, utilities, transportation and school supplies that are not funded or are under-funded by the state. The levy represents about 20 percent of the school district’s general fund, which pays for day-to-day operations.

 

If this replacement levy is approved, taxable property within the district would continue to be taxed to pay for school programs and operations over the next four years, with the estimated rate to be $3.69 per year for each thousand dollars of assessed property value. This levy would generate funding in the amount of $16,336,987 in the first year, $16,990,466 in the second year, $17,670,085 in the third year and $18,376,888 in the fourth year.

 

For additional questions regarding this measure contact: Kevin Patterson - Public Information Officer 425-413-3400 • kpatters@tahomasd.us

No statement submitted.

Statements in favor of and in opposition to a ballot measure are submitted by committees appointed by the jurisdiction. No persons came forward to serve on the committee and to write a statement in opposition. If you would like to be involved with a committee in the future please contact the jurisdiction.

Union officials in the Tahoma Schools have pressured the school board to divert levy funds from student services in order to pay teachers more. Our levy should pay for student services, not for wage increases.

 

In the collective bargaining agreement sought by union officials, the average state-provided wage of $53,584 for teachers will be enhanced by 10.9 percent from levy and levy-matched funds. This costs roughly $2.06 million per year which could be better used to help at-risk students or reduce class sizes. The school district leads taxpayers to believe the levy money is being used for students, yet large amounts support union priorities instead.

 

Levies are great for funding local priorities and unique services for our area students, but taxpayers should hold off giving the school district any more money until the school board is able to put student services above the demands of union officials.

 

Statement submitted by: Laurie Lyford, Renay Bennett, and Tom Henningsgards
propertyrights4us@gmail.com

 

 

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

1259 en-US Production

TTY: Relay 711

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