Richland Citizens for Good Schools
99504 N. Horn Rapids Drive
West Richland, WA 99353
99504 N. Horn Rapids Drive
West Richland, WA 99353
Welcome to the Richland Citizens For Good Schools web-site, which is dedicated to supporting the Richland School District. The Richland School District levy election is coming up February 9. The levy amounts being presented to voters are:
• $17.3 million in 2011 (a 9.3% increase over the 2010 levy)
• $18.3 million in 2012 (a 5.9% increase over 2011)
The operations levy allows the District to continue basic programs which are not fully funded by the state including: updated textbooks, transportation, extra-curricular activities and utilities expenses. Levy money makes up about 15% of the District's annual operating budget.
“This levy will allow us to maintain our quality programs and maintain a fiscally sound budget,” said Superintendent Jean Lane.
The operations levy is not a new tax. It will replace the current levy which expires at the end of 2010. Every two years, District residents are asked to renew the levy.
“We’re keeping this levy as low as we can, yet the District will still be able to maintain its excellent educational program,” said Rick Jansons, President of the Richland School Board.
If voters choose to renew the levy, the tax rate would go up nine cents in 2011, from $2.86 per $1000 of assessed valuation to $2.95 per $1000. Yearly property taxes would increase $9 on a $100,000 home.
The Benton County Auditor’s Office will mail out election ballots to all Richland School District residents around January 19.
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Why are the levy amounts going up?
Two main factors are driving the increase:
First, there has been a significant enrollment increase since the 2008 levy was approved. Levies are set for dollar amounts and do not automatically increase when enrollment goes up. While we did anticipate some enrollment increase in the 2008 levy, we did not factor in the jump that we recently experienced.
The second major impact on the levy is the expected loss of some of our state levy equalization funds. The levy equalization program provides state funded levy money to “property poor” districts to allow them to raise local funds without overburdening the local tax payers. The amounts are calculated annually and are based on the District’s relative property value compared to the state average (the actual calculation is a little more complex and uses an imaginary standard levy rate as an intermediary step). Due to the recent recession, most areas of the state have experienced a significant decrease in overall property values. However, within the Richland School Disrict boundary, we have continued to experience increases, both through ongoing new construction and reassessments. The net result is that we expect to be “less property poor” and that will reduce state assistance by over $500,000 per year. The state funding system expects us to make this up through the local levy.
When you combine these two factors, the proposed levy should generate the same dollar per student amount for the district as the current levy which expires at the end of 2010.
For more information, call 967-6030.
• $17.3 million in 2011 (a 9.3% increase over the 2010 levy)
• $18.3 million in 2012 (a 5.9% increase over 2011)
The operations levy allows the District to continue basic programs which are not fully funded by the state including: updated textbooks, transportation, extra-curricular activities and utilities expenses. Levy money makes up about 15% of the District's annual operating budget.
“This levy will allow us to maintain our quality programs and maintain a fiscally sound budget,” said Superintendent Jean Lane.
The operations levy is not a new tax. It will replace the current levy which expires at the end of 2010. Every two years, District residents are asked to renew the levy.
“We’re keeping this levy as low as we can, yet the District will still be able to maintain its excellent educational program,” said Rick Jansons, President of the Richland School Board.
If voters choose to renew the levy, the tax rate would go up nine cents in 2011, from $2.86 per $1000 of assessed valuation to $2.95 per $1000. Yearly property taxes would increase $9 on a $100,000 home.
The Benton County Auditor’s Office will mail out election ballots to all Richland School District residents around January 19.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are the levy amounts going up?
Two main factors are driving the increase:
First, there has been a significant enrollment increase since the 2008 levy was approved. Levies are set for dollar amounts and do not automatically increase when enrollment goes up. While we did anticipate some enrollment increase in the 2008 levy, we did not factor in the jump that we recently experienced.
The second major impact on the levy is the expected loss of some of our state levy equalization funds. The levy equalization program provides state funded levy money to “property poor” districts to allow them to raise local funds without overburdening the local tax payers. The amounts are calculated annually and are based on the District’s relative property value compared to the state average (the actual calculation is a little more complex and uses an imaginary standard levy rate as an intermediary step). Due to the recent recession, most areas of the state have experienced a significant decrease in overall property values. However, within the Richland School Disrict boundary, we have continued to experience increases, both through ongoing new construction and reassessments. The net result is that we expect to be “less property poor” and that will reduce state assistance by over $500,000 per year. The state funding system expects us to make this up through the local levy.
When you combine these two factors, the proposed levy should generate the same dollar per student amount for the district as the current levy which expires at the end of 2010.
For more information, call 967-6030.
2008 Richland School Levy Show
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on the approved bond construction projects, please visit the |
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