Trick or Treat, ’80s style

Schools consider going for double levy in 2004

November 5, 2003 8:00 pm

South Whidbey schools wants levy money, again.

This month, on Nov. 27, the South Whidbey Board of Education is expected to approve a resolution to go out for a maintenance and operation levy next year. That levy would likely earn the district $3.2 million or more each year off property taxes.

Yet to be decided is whether the district will ask voters to approve a two-year or four-year levy, and whether to ask for an additional levy to fund capital projects.

All of this will be up for discussion and negotiation at a board workshop next Monday in the South Whidbey Intermediate School community room.

One thing that is for certain is that voters will go to the polls in February 2004 to approve either one or two levies for the 2005-06 school year.

The maintenance and operations levy, if approved, would replace a two-year levy expiring next year. The proposed capital projects levy, which would raise $250,000 a year over the course of a biennium.

The maintenance and operations levy funds teachers and classified employees not paid out of state funds, and augments the budgets for food service, transportation, special education, administration, co-curricular activities, textbooks and support for grounds maintenance.

The capital projects levy would be used to repair and replace floors and roofs in the district’s five schools.

“Its major focus is on warm, safe and dry,” said schools Superintendent Martin Laster.

Laster said about 90 percent of the capital projects levy would go toward roofing and flooring replacement. He said their are benefits in going out for a capital projects levy rather than putting a bond issue on the ballot, as has been typical in the past for paying for work on school buildings.

He said a levy avoids additional debt like interest on a bond and has no cost for financing beyond election costs. The cost to taxpayers — $10 per $100,000 — would be relatively low, he said.

The most recent school maintenance and operations levy passed on South Whidbey was in February 2002. The $3.2 million levy was for maintenance and operations in the district.

INFO BOX

Proposed capital projects levy

The following is a sample scenario of items to be funded by a two- year, capital projects levy for the South Whidbey School district.

Year 1

Middle School: Replace roof sections 6th-grade wing and flooring $56,000, $50,000

Primary School: Replace flooring $54,000

Intermediate School: Replace flooring $50,000

High school: Re-coat tennis courts $14,000

Bayview School: Replace Flooring $13,000

Shared Schooling: Replace flooring $13,000

Year 2

Middle School: Re-roof Spencer Building $30,000; replace flooring $50,000