Edmonds school levy passing; four others faring less well

Published 9:39 am Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The earliest results of the primary on Tuesday night show voters in the Edmonds School District are willing to open their wallets a little wider in support of local schools.

Four other districts saw similar requests not faring well.

Edmonds as well as the Everett, Marysville, Granite Falls and Northshore school districts all asked voters to approve tax increases to make up for lost state funding. All the levies needed a simple majority to pass.

In the Edmonds School District, 54.1 percent were voting in favor of a four-year levy that will cost 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2011 and 2013 and cost 30 cents per $1,000 in 2012 and 2014. The levy will raise between $6.8 million and $8 million each year if approved by voters.

“We appreciate the support of our community, and in particular during this very challenging economic time in our state to see the issue is passing,” Superintendent Nick Brossoit wrote in an e-mail statement. “… It will help the district greatly to have the local support and resources of the supplemental levy to better address the needs of students in our schools.”

In Everett, support for a four-year levy garnered 49.5 percent of the vote — or just shy of the simple majority. If approved by voters, the levy will cost 25 cents per $1,000 in 2011, 24 cents per $1,000 in 2012 and 2013 and 23 cents per $1,000 in 2014. The collection of $4 million each year will be deposited into the Everett School District’s general fund.

“We’re going to wait and watch,” Everett School Board President Ed Petersen said. “We’re gratified by all the voters who vote yes to support kids. These are hard times for everybody and we know the economy is not friendly to many people in our community.”

Northshore was also close to gaining enough votes, but still trailed. An education support levy received 49.9 percent approval in the Northshore School District, where a four-year levy asked for 20 cents per $1,000 in 2011, 10 cents per $1,000 in 2012, and 11 cents per $1,000 in 2013 and 2014 to raise between $2.3 million and $4.5 million a year.

Support for levies in Marysville and Granite Falls school districts appeared to lag behind on Tuesday night.

A four-year levy of 20 cents per $1,000 each year in the Marysville School District received a 40.0 percent yes vote. If approved, the levy would raise $1.5 million a year for the district. A two-year levy in Granite Falls School District received yes votes from 43.8 percent of voters. The levy asked for 35 cents per $1,000 next year to raise $550,000 and for 34 cents per $1,000 in 2012 to raise $585,000.

The Legislature approved a law in March that gave school districts an opportunity to ask voters for money by raising the lid on property taxes by 4 percentage points for 2011 to 2017.

Statements from school districts with levies on Tuesday’s ballot made reference to cuts in or the uncertainty of state funding for education, and said plans to use levy money were to maintain current programs, purchase instructional materials and improve graduation rates.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.