GCD district begins levy talks

The education and operations levy that squeaked by in 2022 expires next year, and Grand Coulee Dam School District is already working on the next funding proposal to voters, which the board president would like to see appear on the February ballot. 

Though the final proposed rate and election date won’t be set until November, it will likely fall somewhere between $2 and $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, based on comments at the school board meeting Sept. 9. Superintendent Rod Broadnax says he intends to bring a proposal to the board in October.

At the recent meeting, board members got a crash course in several common sources of public funding for schools in the state, as well as statistics on the historic passage rate for bonds and levies locally and statewide, from a consultant who works with schools to prepare bond and levy proposals. 

Though the “Educational Programs & Operations Levy” is considered “flexible revenue” with fewer restrictions than, say, a capital bond for construction, the money raised tends to cover basic education expenses that remain unfunded at the state level, the consultant told the board.

“You’d love to say that it’s all for extracurriculars and arts and music and drama, but you’re still using this for keeping the lights on,” said the district’s consultant, Cory Plager of D.A. Davidson. “You’re still using this for substitute teachers, for nurses. So it is flexible resources, but you’re still backfilling the state’s lack of funding basic education.” 

The expiring levy is for $2 per $1,000 of assessed property value, and state law caps levies at $2.50 per thousand. If the board opts to go below $1.50 per thousand, then the district begins to lose out on Local Effort Assistance funding from the state, Plager said. 

Also known as Levy Equalization funds, state “LEA” dollars subsidize districts like this one in areas with low revenues from property taxes, since so many land parcels belong to federal, tribal or state entities. Over the last 10 years, GCDSD has usually received well over $600,000 toward its annual budget from levy equalization. Last year it brought in $725,000.

Whatever the ultimate rate proposed to voters, the district has two chances to get it passed within a 12-month period.

The idea is to put it to voters on the February ballot, and, if it doesn’t pass, then take it to a vote again in April, board President Rich Black said. A simple majority of 50% plus one is required to pass a levy.

In 2022 the board put a $2.50 education and operations levy to voters in February, which failed 44-56. The board then placed a $2 levy proposal on the November ballot, reversing the results, with almost 55 percent in favor.

For anyone putting together the annual budget — or trying to guess whether their job or program would still exist — it was a nail-biter to wait until the final election of the year for a “last chance” levy. Getting started early means the board will know whether they can count on the money by the time the board is voting on the budget, based on how the election goes next spring.

The newest board member, Buffy Nicholson, said the presentation was really helpful, and a community member watching the meeting over Zoom suggested having the speaker back for a town hall event.

Black said this is the first time since he’s been on the board that he’s received a comprehensive presentation on education levies from someone who works on them professionally.

Broadnax told the board he and district Business Manager Susie Marchand will bring the board a recommendation in October.

“We already kind of know where we want to go, but we wanted you guys to hear exactly what we talked about and what those numbers look like,” Broadnax said. 

In his presentation, Plager also reported that the total assessed value of taxable properties within the school district boundaries has gone up by 13% from last year, from around $365 million in 2023 up to $412 million in 2024.