News
School Levy Measures to Go Before Dayton Voters in February
A new maintenance and operations levy would provide the Dayton School District over $1 million in yearly revenues in 2011 and 2012, replacing the current M&O levy. A capital improvement levy for 2011 would provide funding to resurface the track at the athletic complex and replace exterior doors at the elementary school.
In February, voters in the Dayton School District will be asked to approve two school funding levies. The first is a two-year maintenance and operations levy, which will provide additional property tax revenues to the Dayton Schools of $1,097,000 per year in 2011 and 2012. The proposed levy would replace the current two-year M&O levy that was passed by voters in 2008. That levy provided $941,000 to the district in 2009, and will bring in $959,000 in 2010.
The second measure is a $92,685 capital improvement levy, for 2011 only. Both measures were approved by the Dayton School Board at their December 16th meeting.
Dayton School Superintendent Doug Johnson says that the increase over the previous M&O levy amounts is needed not only because of increased operating costs, but also due to likely cuts in state school funding in 2010. “Washington received federal stimulus funds to offset state budget cuts for schools in 2009,” says Johnson. “Stimulus money won’t be there next year, and I think it’s unlikely that the state legislature will be able to restore those funds next year.”
If funding from the state improves in the next couple of years, Johnson plans to use any excess levy funds to make improvements in the areas of math instruction and counseling. “We’re still seeing way too many kids struggle with math,” he says. “I’m hoping we can provide more options for instruction at different levels, to better meet individual kids’ needs.”
According to Johnson, the M&O levy is expected to cost property owners in the District approximately $2.25 per thousand dollar valuation in each of the two years. The cost to property owners in 2009 for the existing levy is $1.94 per thousand dollar valuation. Johnson points out that, when the 2008 levy measure went to voters, the expected levy amount was about $2.34 per thousand. The difference was due to a higher than expected overall valuation of property in the District, including the addition of wind turbine installations within the District boundaries.
The capital improvement levy is expected to add $0.19 per thousand dollar valuation for property tax payers in 2011. Funding from that levy would be used to replace several exterior doors at the elementary school and to resurface the athletic track which surrounds the football field on Cottonwood Street. “Both of these improvement projects are badly needed,” says Johnson. “New doors will greatly reduce energy use and increase safety at the elementary school.”
The rubberized all-weather athletic track was installed in the early 1990s and the surface has far outlived its projected 10-year life. Temporary repairs were made this year to fill several spots where the surface was peeling.
Dayton School Board Chair Steve Martin says that the School Board is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of education in Dayton, despite the struggling economy and unsure funding from the state. “Mr. Johnson has done an excellent job in determining what we can anticipate in state funding in the next couple of years,” he says. “The people in our community have always supported the schools well, and I’m confident they will again this time.”
Ballots for the school levy will be mailed by the Auditor’s office on January 20th and will be due February 9th. A 50% “yes” vote is required for approval of each school levy request.