| Article from Walla Walla Union-Bulletin on the School Levy |
The Touchet community is being asked to approve a three year Maintenance and Operations Levy, which will collect $676,546 in 2011, $684,355 in 2012, and $684,355 in 2013. The cost for the 2011 levy will be around $3.05 for the first year, $3.12 per $1,000 the second levy year, and the 2013 levy cost will be about $3.15 per $1,000.
In response to the state and local economy and recommendations from community members, the district has reduced the overall levy amount by nearly $20,000 per levy year. Although the levy proposals leave little room for strengthening the district’s cash reserves, the levy proposals should enable the district to meet its educational obligations without losing the fiscal footing it has worked to strengthen and maintain.
The Three-year levy, to be voted on Feb. 9, would replace the previous levy passed in 2008, which expires at the end of 2010. The new levy is a continuation of existing taxes, except that it covers one more school year than the previous levy. It will help to cover funding cost for district-wide programs, food service, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, transportation, and non-employee related costs such as utilities, insurance, technology, and basic classroom textbooks and supplies from 2011 through 2013. The levy measure requires a simple majority to pass.
With shrinking student numbers as well as state and federal dollars, Touchet superintendent McDonald sees this levy, more than in previous years, as a very essential and critical part of its overall fiscal program, especially if it is to continue its efforts to provide a strong and progressive educational system.
“We have to use our money wisely,” Supt. McDonald stated, “Touchet residents are very aware of the volatility of the local and state economy, especially in light of ballooning state and federal deficits, the likelihood of additional cuts in state and federal funding, not to mention job and revenues reductions locally”.
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