School board OKs levy directions

Voters in the Grand Coulee Dam School District will be asked next February to replace an expiring tax levy with a new one of the same rate in 2023.

The board of directors voted Tuesday night to direct the superintendent to prepare language for a levy question on the coming ballot that would keep the current “enrichment” levy property tax rate at $2.50 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. And they voted to seek a replacement of the district’s expiring capital facilities levy at $1.70 per thousand, the same rate as the current one.

Superintendent Paul Turner cautioned that he would not want to jeopardize the enrichment levy by adding the capital levy.

“The need’s there, but it’s a matter of — during these times — where’s everybody at?” he said.

A capital levy, Director Ken Stanger reasoned, would allow the district to continue to better its facilities by building funds to match grants.

The board passed two motions on the levy rates unanimously, although members Rich Black and Carla Marconi were absent.