Index asks voters to replace school levy

Published 10:42 pm Sunday, April 11, 2010

INDEX — Voters in the Index School District will decide a four-year maintenance and operation levy on the April 27 ballot.

The proposal would replace a measure that is expiring.

In a letter to school district residents, school administrator Martin Boyle said the local contribution is important at a time the state Legislature is reducing spending.

“Because the Legislature is still in session deciding the budget, we won’t know the local impact to state budget cuts, but hopefully, with local support, we can still run the quality programs we have all come to expect,” he wrote.

Board member Sue Cross said the district has tried to keep costs down.

“Times are tough,” she said. “We kept the levy as low as we could and still be able to support the students.”

The district is proposing a levy rate of $2.31 per $1,000 of assessed value over each of the next four years. That is less than the $2.49 per $1,000 voters approved in 2006. The new cost on a $250,000 home would be $577.50 compared to $622.50

The Index School District has enjoyed solid support for its levies, Cross said.

It passed a four-year levy in 2006 with a 78 percent “yes” vote.

Index is one of the state’s smallest school districts.

In 1955, the existing Index School was built for $51,000 on the former town hall and fire station site. It was built to house 25 to 30 students, but has accommodated as many as 50.

In 1998, Index voters approved a maintenance and operations levy that saved the school district from consolidating with Sultan down the road on U.S. 2.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.