Sultan puts levy funds to use in classrooms
Published 10:49 pm Monday, February 1, 2010
SULTAN — School officials are asking voters for their support once again with a Feb. 9 ballot issue.
The Sultan School District hopes to replace a voter-approved levy that will expire at the end of the year.
That expiring levy covers about 17 percent of the school budget, superintendent Dan Chaplik said.
The replacement levy would aim to do the same, paying for textbooks, teacher training and more.
“Primarily the money goes into the classroom,” Chaplik said.
In 2011, the replacement levy would generate $4.06 million, set at a rate of $3.09 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. That’s 21 cents higher than the levy rate this year.
By 2014, the levy would climb to $3.63 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value, bringing in $4.98 million for the district.
At the levy’s highest point, a homeowner with a $200,000 house would pay $726 a year.
The higher levy rate helps account for unknowns. For instance, district officials don’t know if, or by how much, state funding will drop. They also don’t know what will happen to the district’s tax base.
If the levy rate ends up being higher than it needs to be, homeowners will be sent lower-than-expected bills. That’s what the district has done these past four years, Chaplik said, by rolling back tax rates.
“We pass the levy a little bit higher than what we can collect, and pass it back to the taxpayers,” he said.
The district educates about 1,930 students at five campuses. Additionally, another 200 students are enrolled in the district’s online program.
State law allows school districts two attempts each year at passing levies. The levy needs a simple majority to pass.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.
Levy coverage
Here is the planned coverage in The Herald for school bond and levy issues that are on the Feb. 9 ballot. These stories can also be found on cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet after publication.
Jan. 25: Lake Stevens School District
Jan. 26: Snohomish School District
Jan. 27: Marysville School District
Jan. 28: Everett School District
Jan. 29: Mukilteo School District
Feb. 1: Edmonds School District
Today: Sultan School District
Wednesday: Northshore (Bothell) School District
