Upcoming Vote On Peninsula School District Levies
On February 14, 2023, voters within the Peninsula School District have an opportunity to vote on two levies that, if passed by a simple majority, will fund educational programs and operations and safety, security, and technology systems and improvements.
School Funding In Washington
First, a little background on school funding: Like all school districts within Washington State, the state only funds “basic education,” which does not fully fund nurses, counselors, educators, athletics, arts, music, clubs, transportation, and preventative maintenance projects. To ensure schools have funds for these important elements of a well-rounded education, school districts rely on local levies to bridge the financial gap. Today, in the Peninsula School District, funds from our current levy account for roughly 18% of total district spending.
There are two levies on the February ballot: the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (Proposition 1) and the Safety, Security and Technology Levy (Proposition 2). The former is a three-year levy that will replace the expiring 2020 levy. The latter is a new six-year levy that will provide enhanced safety and security systems and technology improvements. This levy will be the only funding source for safety and security projects, as the state does not currently fund these resources.
What About The Cost?
The levy rates are estimated to be $1.13 and $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, respectively. Added to the existing bond that helped the Peninsula School District build four new elementary schools (Artondale Elementary, Evergreen Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, and Swift Water Elementary) as well as remodel two middle schools (Kopachuck Middle School and Key Peninsula Middle School), the local school tax rate is estimated to be $1.82 per $1,000 of assessed value beginning in 2024. This is lower than the total current rate of $2.01 based on 2022 assessed values.
When asking for money, it is important to make sure that there is solid fiscal responsibility on the part of the entity asking for money. If Peninsula School District’s past is indicative of its future, its fiscal responsibility gets an A+. Of the six school projects mentioned earlier, only four of them were supposed to be funded. Through smart spending, the district was able to save enough funds to add the major renovation of two of our middle schools.
What Makes Great Schools
When we talk to homebuyers, one of the things they mention that drew them here was the great schools. Great schools go beyond the three Rs–reading, writing, arithmetic–by providing resources and options for all kids. They hire counselors and nurses for every school, and provide arts education and extracurricular activities like sports and drama. They provide technology tools for 21st-century learning in buildings that are safe and secure. They are not basic.
To ensure we can continue to support our great schools, I hope you will join us in voting “yes” to the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (Proposition 1) and the Safety, Security and Technology Levy (Proposition 2) on Tuesday, February 14. I can think of no better way to show our love to today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders.