It’s no dream scenario for eight Clark County school districts, Woodland included, that seek voter approval of replacement maintenance and operations tax levies on the Feb. 9 ballot.
Oh, sure: Let’s hit up antsy taxpayers during the worst economy in more than half a century.
A quick quiz about the levies
But ask the districts must.
Local property tax dollars have taken on new, critical weight: With the Washington state budget under assault and federal stimulus funds certain to peter out, school districts see M&O levies as the only sure money they’ve got.
Between the local taxes and state supplemental dollars to help districts with a lower tax base (typically with less industrial and commercial value — that’s you, Battle Ground), the levies supply up to 24 percent of each district’s operating budget, a maximum under state law.
That’s only if voters say “Yes.”
Given voters’ mood, most of the replacement measures call for a modest boost in collections; in the case of the Washougal district, no increase at all.
Evergreen and Vancouver districts say double-digit percentage drops in median home value mean most local owners actually would pay less in 2010 and in 2011 than last year, despite a bump in tax rates.
In Battle Ground, leaders deem a robust levy increase essential to keep the sprawling district viable in the face of state shortfalls.
For broader perspective on all eight tax measures, see the chart and discussion in Sunday’s edition of The Columbian.
