Remember to Vote in the School Levy Election!

Remember to Vote in the School Levy Election! 

By February 9.

More information here.

Why do we have levy elections?

• School funding comes from local, state, and federal revenues.
• Local levies pay for items not funded by state or federal sources.
• Local levies provide more local discretion than state or federal rules.
• Richland’s school levy provides about 17% of the district’s revenue.
• Local levies are passed for a limited time period and they expire unless renewed.

What is the levy used for?

• Almost every component of school operations benefits from levy funds.
• Athletics and Activities are entirely funded from local levies because there is no state or federal money for these.
• Hiring, training, and retaining quality staff is a major use of levy funds.
• Maintenance, transportation, and utilities are strongly supported by the local levy.
• The local levy allows Richland to offer excellent programs above and beyond the basic education provided by the state.

How Much is the local levy?

• The levy proposed levy in 2017 and 2018 will maintain the same levy rate as in 2016, of $3.28 per thousand dollars of Assessed Valuation. (That is, $328 per year for a $100,000 home, or $656 per year for a $200,000 home.)
• Due to increased property value in the school district from new construction and higher property values, the same tax rate continued in the 2017 levy will collect an additional $1,200,000 (for a total of $24,200,000) and the 2018 levy will collect another additional $1,200,000 (for a total of $25,400,000). This will allow the district to account for enrollment increases of at least 350 students per year and for the costs of opening and operating a new middle school.