School levy sought to continue programs

Local school district patrons have only six days remaining to mail in their replacement levy ballots. The ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 10, to be counted.

The Grand Coulee Dam School District is asking voters to approve a four-year, $1.13 million maintenance and operation levy, which would result in a reduction in taxes to most property owners.

This levy is a replacement levy of a four-year levy that ends this year.

It asks voters to pay $3.95 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, compared to the current rate of $4.54 per thousand, a reduction of 59 cents per thousand.

The levy covers the years 2016-2019, and is the third four-year levy district patrons have had.

Owners of a $100,000 house would pay $395 in taxes compared to what they now pay, $454.

The levy funds would enable the district to continue to upgrade its technology, support its healthy food program, support special education, continue the upgrade of textbooks and curriculum, provide funding for the music program, provide extra-curricular activities, including sports, and support all unfunded but mandated state and federal programs.

If patrons pass the replacement levy, the district will benefit from another $535,000 from the state, just for passing the levy.

District officials point out that this levy replaces an existing levy, and will be a decrease in taxes for most taxpayers.