Ridgefield schools to ask voters for three-year levy

If passed, collections wouldn’t increase in ’11

The Ridgefield school board has decided to ask voters to approve a three-year maintenance and operations levy next February.

The current three-year levy is set to expire in 2010 and in its final year will collect $3,688,000. The proposed replacement levy, if approved, will not increase tax collections in 2011 and will increase them by less than 3 percent in the final two years of the levy. The proposed levy would bring in $3,798,000 in 2012 and $3,912,000 in 2013.

The school board said it tried to balance the needs of the district and take into consideration the tight budgets of taxpayers. The board also had to factor in declining home values, which have dropped 15 percent in the last year, said Julie Olson, chairwoman of the board. If assessed property values climb in the next few years, the levy rates will decrease, she said.

The board also collaborated with the Citizens for Ridgefield Schools Committee to come up with the levy proposal.

“We felt that we came up with a fair number to support the school district for the next three years,” Olson said.

The proposed levy rate is estimated to be about $1.90 per $1,000 assessed property value. The levy rate approved by voters in 2007 was $1.87, Superintendent Art Edgerly said.

Maintenance and operations levies fund many costs, such as special education, transportation, textbooks and safety programs, not covered by state money.

The school board voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday evening to place the levy resolution on the Feb. 9 ballot.

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.