This week, Clark County voters will receive ballots in the mail for the Feb. 9 general election.
Six school districts — Evergreen, Green Mountain, Hockinson, La Center, Ridgefield and Vancouver — are seeking multiyear maintenance and operations levies to replace expiring levies. The Camas School District is the lone district with a bond measure on the ballot.
Levies require a simple majority — 50 percent plus one — to be approved by voters.
Bonds, which require a super majority, must be approved by 60 percent of the qualified voters voting in the school district. In addition, the total number of voters casting ballots at the election cannot be less than 40 percent of the number of votes cast in the last state general election, said Cathie Garber, elections director.
Schools in Washington are funded through a combination of federal, state and local dollars. About 7 to 11 percent of a district’s budget is paid for by federal funds distributed to states. The majority of school district budgets — from 68 to 75 percent — is paid for by statewide sales tax and property tax revenues from the general fund. About 18 to 24 percent of a district’s budget comes from property taxes.
Levy funds fill the gap between the basic education funding provided by the state and the current operating budget of a district.
School districts use the proceeds from maintenance and operations levies to pay for a variety of programs not funded by the state, including extra teachers and staff, and extracurricular programs such as athletics and student field trips.
Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 9 in order to be valid, or droppedoff at one of the county’s authorized drop locations before 8 p.m. on Election Day. One of those locations is a drop box in the middle of 14th Street between Franklin and Esther streets, near the Clark County Courthouse in downtown Vancouver. It is accessible 24 hours a day.
Bond
Camas School District: The Camas School District has a $120 million bond on the ballot. Here are the details:
• Estimated tax rate per $1,000 of assessed home value: 48 cents, effective 2017. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $144 annually.
• Will pay for: a smaller, standalone high school on the Camas High School campus, likely with a project-based learning focus; a new Lacamas Heights Elementary School; renovation of the shuttered Joyce Garver Auditorium to include a preschool program; security upgrades; ongoing building maintenance and acquiring land.
• Information: www.camas.wednet.edu/2016bond
Levies
Evergreen Public Schools: Evergreen Public Schools has a $154.5 million replacement maintenance and operations levy on the ballot. Here are the details:
• Duration: Three years: $49 million in 2017, $51.5 million in 2018 and $54 million in 2019.
• Estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value: $3.51 in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $1,053 annually in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
• Will pay for: Continuing all-day kindergarten for all elementary schools; lower class sizes; extracurricular activities; and sports and transportation.
• Current levy: $3.52 per $1,000 of assessed home value.
• Information: evergreenps.org/Election
Green Mountain School District: Voters in the Green Mountain School District will vote on a $1.6 million replacement maintenance and operations levy.
• Duration: Three years.
• Estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value: $3.55 in 2017, $3.67 in 2018 and $3.78 in 2019. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $1,065 in 2017, $1,101 in 2018 and $1,134 in 2019.
• Will pay for: Some staffing not funded by the state; some para-educator hours; some specialist teachers; infrastructure, including reroofing a portable building; building maintenance; and upgrading technology.
• Current levy: $2.42 per $1,000 of assessed home value.
Hockinson School District: Hockinson voters will cast ballots on a $ 13.9 million replacement maintenance and operations levy.
• Duration: Three years.
• Estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value: $3.56 in 2017, $3.99 in 2018, $3.94 in 2019. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $1,068 in 2017, $1,197 in 2018, $1,182 in 2019.
• Will pay for: Three new positions: school security, grounds maintenance and general maintenance; continued funding of positions not paid for through state apportionment, including 10 teachers and certificated specialists, 22 support staff, and special-education staff as needed; additional working days and professional development for teachers; upgrades of lab computers and servers; replacement of classroom projectors; kitchen equipment past its life expectancy at elementary and high schools; roofing repairs; resurfacing of a high school athletic track; lighting and stage upgrades at the high school; replacement of fiber cable at elementary school.
• Current levy: $3.07 per $1,000 of assessed home value.
• Information: www.hocksd.org/community/levy_information
La Center School District: La Center School District has an $8.4 million replacement maintenance and operations levy on the ballot.
• Duration: Three years.
• Estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value: $2.87 in 2017, $2.93 in 2018, $2.99 in 2019. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $861 in 2017, $879 in 2018, $897 in 2019.
• Will pay for: Security and facility safety improvements; extra support for struggling and advanced students; additional specialists for students in kindergarten through eighth grade; upgrades to band and choir equipment; money for a growing student population; new school buses and bus options not paid for by the state; student field trips and special learning experiences; additional elective and Advanced Placement courses at the high school; a technology replacement and upgrade.
• Current levy: $2.93 per $1,000 of assessed home value.
• Information: www.lacenterschools.org
Ridgefield School District: Voters in Ridgefield will consider a $20.1 million replacement maintenance and operations levy.
• Duration: Three years.
• Estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value: $2.46 in 2017, $2.54 in 2018, $2.62 in 2019. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $738 in 2017, $762 in 2018, $786 in 2019.
• Will pay for: Teachers and support staff not funded by state apportionment; classroom technology, including hardware, software, service and support; extracurricular activities, including athletics and performing arts; facilities maintenance and repairs; professional development for staff; school safety and security; and student transportation.
• Current levy: $1.98 per $1,000 of assessed home value.
• Information: www.ridgefieldsd.org/levy-information
Vancouver Public Schools: Vancouver Public Schools has a $141.9 million replacement maintenance and operations levy on the ballot.
• Duration: Three years.
• Estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value: $3.04 in 2017, $3.02 in 2018, $3.00 in 2019. The cost for a $300,000 home would be $912 in 2017, $906 in 2018, $900 in 2019.
• Will pay for: Teacher and support positions; classroom supplies, textbooks and equipment; instructional technology and software; safety and security; staff training and professional development; support for magnet programs; education for students with special needs; extracurricular activities and intramural sports; technology support in schools; substitute teachers and classified staff; portable classrooms.
• Current levy: $3.05 per $1,000 of assessed home value.
• Information: vansd.org/levy-bond
