Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Assessed value less than previous two years
HARRINGTON—The school district here is seeking passage of a two-year replacement levy for collection in 2023 and 2024 to help fund several school expenses. The assessed value is less than in previous years, but the amount remains the same as the most recent levy.
Voters will decide the levy’s fate in a special election Tuesday, Feb. 8.
The two-year levy seeks $375,000 for collection in 2023 and 2024. The assessed impact on school district taxpayers is estimated at $2.25 per $1,000 in property value, which is a decline from the $2.50 in assessed value passed in a 2020 special election.
The $375,000 levy amount, however, remains the same.
“Our business manager said we should be able to raise the same amount of money while lowering rates,” superintendent Wayne Massie said. “The state limit is $2.50, and we wanted to lower it a bit.”
The levy would cover a bevy of expenses within the district.
“The state of Washington funds basic education, but the levy is everything outside of that,” Massie said. “That includes preschool, field trips, athletics, clubs, and parts of administrative and classified salaries, and maintenance salaries…it’s used for some curriculum dollars and helps pay for our pool.”
“It covers quite a bit,” he added. “The state doesn’t even pay for a full-time principal…that’s where levies come in, to help pay those costs.”
Voters in city limits, rural Harrington, Bluestem, Downs, Earl and Mohler will see the levy on their ballots if they reside within school district boundaries. The last levy was passed 207-71 in Feb. 2020.
“It’s very important (and) very much needed,” Massie said. “It’s one of those things you have to have to keep the school running.”
The Harrington levy is the only measure concerning east county schools in the upcoming special election. Other school districts seeking levy passage include Creston, Grand Coulee Dam, Odessa, Ritzville and Wilbur. Lincoln Hospital District No. 1 is also seeking levy funds.
Ballots must be postmarked by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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