2010 Replacement M&O Levy

Voters of the Woodland School District will have the opportunity to approve a two-year replacement levy via mail and walk-in ballot from January 22^nd to February 9^th 2010.

This levy money would be used to support normal operating expenses of our schools during 2011 and 2012 calendar years and will provide support during the 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013 school years.

Levy funds help pay for some of the fundamental tools of our educational programs such as: staffing, increased utility costs, increased fuel costs, teaching supplies, textbooks, library books, transportation, and our extracurricular and athletic programs,

Frequently asked questions regarding the levy can be found below. If you have additional questions or need more information, please call the district office at 360.225.9451.

What is a Maintenance and Operations (M & O) Levy?

 A Maintenance and Operations (M & O) Levy provides a school district with funds to bridge the gap between state funds and the actual cost of operating its schools.  School districts can request renewal of levies for up to four years at a time.  Our current levy, which expires in December 2010, was approved by voters in 2006.

Is this a new tax?

No. This is a "replacement" or "renewal" of an expiring tax that Woodland Public School patrons supported in 2006. This levy is a "replacement levy" because it replaces the current levy.

What is the difference between Maintenance and Operations Levies, Capital Levies and Bonds?

There are three types of resource requests that Washington school districts can ask of local taxpayers. These are: Maintenance and Operations Levies, Capital levies, and Bonds.

Maintenance and Operations Levies

A levy is a local property tax authorized by voters to be used to operate educational programs for students and maintain facilities. M&O Levies pay for extended learning programs, additional staffing, facilities maintenance, and extra-curricular activities. Voters are being asked to consider only a Maintenance & Operations Levy in this election.

Capital Levies

This type of levy is a mix between M&O Levies and Bonds and can only be spent on "things," not people or learning programs. School districts typically use this request to address "capital" needs that fall short of larger construction needs funded by bonds such as carpeting, roof replacements, upgrades to facilities, or replacing failing equipment originally purchased when a building was new. When people speak of "tech levies," they are referring to a capital levy used to purchase computers, technology infrastructure, digital projectors, and software products. Woodland has not asked voters to support this type of levy.

Bonds

Voter-approved Bonds fund construction or modernization of buildings and facilities. Bonds cannot be used to operate schools or pay for student programs. A Bond election must be passed by a supermajority vote of a 60% approval. They are similar to a home mortgage, and are generally carried for 10 to 20 years.

Why does the district need a levy?

As state support for school operations continues to shrink and costs for providing essential services and programs continue to rise, the importance of local support for schools becomes even greater. Currently, the M&O levy is responsible for about 16¢ of every dollar in our budget. Without levy funding, our district would fall far short of the funding needed to maintain our current programs.

Although the state authorizes school districts to levy up to 24% of the district's levy base, our school board of directors has chosen to keep the actual levy amount significantly lower at about 15.5% of the levy base.

Where does levy money go?

Levy funds help pay for some of the fundamental tools of our strong educational program. These items include staffing, teaching supplies, textbooks, library books, transportation, extracurricular programs, and a portion of our afterschool programs. Additionally, levies help cover the costs of increases in utilities, services, and transportation particular to our large, mostly rural area.

Salaries and Benefits for staff beyond state allocations. (this lowers class sizes, increases school based support, and provides professional development,	$827,000
Special Academic Programs	$19,000
Pupil Transportation	$500,000
Supplies/Materials/Textbooks/Maintenance/Utilities, etc.	$903,000
Extracurricular (Athletics & Activities)	$320,000

 

What happens if a levy doesn't pass?

Since the district cannot function at acceptable levels solely on funding provided by the state, a second levy would have to be requested later in the year. In the meantime, Woodland School District runs the risk of losing additional levy equalization money from the state. The more immediate and glaring change would be the need to curtail many of our district's most successful programs and activities, halting their forward progress at a time when student gains in education are most critical.

Why is passing the levy important to me if I don't have any kids in school?

A community's schools benefit more than just the students who attend them and the parents who send them there. Strong schools create environments for young people to learn and grow, and to become valuable, contributing members of their community throughout their lives. Investing in the future of children through support of their schools creates lasting rewards for the whole community. In addition, property value is affected by the quality of area schools. Schools built on a solid foundation where quality student learning is taking place contribute to protecting your home and property investment.

Why is the amount of this levy increased over the expiring levy?

Historically, the levy increases a small percentage each year as both the cost of providing education and our student population increases over time. The levy increase of about 5% in each of the two years maintains the 15.5% of the budget the levy represents.

The value of my home went down. What will that do to my tax bill?

When voters approve a levy, they approve a total amount of collection.  If the total Assessed Valuation of the district goes down, the total tax rate goes up. If the total assessed valuation of the district goes up, the total tax rate goes down. Individual property owner taxes will vary depending on how their property value changes compared to the average change in the school district. As the community grows, the levy taxes are spread out among all taxpayers.

What are "levy equalization dollars" and why do they matter to our schools?

As the state's budget office explains, "Some school districts have lower property values than others, local school district levy rates vary. The lower the property values, the higher the levy rates tend to be.  The state ‘equalizes' local funds by providing matching state funds for school districts with higher than average levy rates." Currently, Woodland expects about $500,000 in levy equalization funds.  

What will this levy cost me?

Changing assessments and new construction continually change the size of the county's base assessment value, which, in turn, determines the total levy amount paid by property owners. The proposed replacement levy will cost property owners approximately $1.68 per $1,000 assessed value for 2009-2010 and $1.69 per $1,000 for 2010-2011. As new construction which would increase the school district's base assessment value continues, the levy rate may decrease. (See Chart for annual changes in tax rate)

Is there a special tax exemption for disabled and/or senior citizens?

Yes. For information about your status, please contact the Clark or Cowlitz County Assessor's office.

Why do you run the levy in February rather than November?

State law does not allow you to run a levy request more than one year in advance of the beginning of collection. We chose to run the levy in the spring because we need to know the funds will be available for the coming year's budget.  Without those funds, significant reductions must be made in order to balance the school district budget.

Where do I vote?

Both Clark and Cowlitz Counties offer mail-in ballots.  You will receive your ballot at your registered mailing address around January 22. It must be returned by mail or dropped off at one of the drop box locations by February 9^th.

What are the voter-approved requirements for the levy?

50% +1 voters must vote yes to renew the expiring levy.  

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

You may contact Michael Green, Superintendent of the Woodland Public School District at 360.225.9451 or greenm@woodlandschools.org

What are the Total School Tax Rates?

The table below shows a comparison of school tax rates per thousand dollars of assessed value. Rates shown for 2003-2009 are actual rates while those for 2010 are estimated from the current levy. 2011 and 2012 are projected under the proposed replacement levy.

Tax Year	Amount of M&O levy	Cost per $1000 of TAV
2002	$1,575,000	$2.09
2003	$1,650,000	$2.14
2004	$1,750,000	$1.98
2005	$1,825,000	$2.01
2006	$1,925,000	$1.95
2007	$2,100,000	$1.91
2008	$2,325,000	$1.85
2009	$2,500,000	$1.84
2010	$2,700,000	$2.03
2011	$2,950,000	$2.13
2012	$3,100,000	$2.17

 

How does our levy compare with those of other school districts?

2009 Regional School District Tax Rates
School District	Assessed Valuation	M&O Rate	Bond Rate	Other Levy Rate	Total Tax Rate
Kelso	$1,937,040,077	$3.14	$1.24	$-	$4.38
Evergreen	$13,711,694,178	$2.67	$1.38	$-	$4.04
Longview	$4,454,729,112	$2.63	$0.93	$-	$3.56
Castle Rock	$665,345,304	$2.52	$1.18	$-	$3.70
Hockinson	$1,185,247,582	$2.44	$1.64	$0.38	$4.45
Vancouver	$14,821,473,346	$2.41	$1.29	$-	$3.70
LaCenter	$1,016,956,919	$2.15	$1.11	$-	$3.26
Camas	$4,407,217,394	$2.15	$2.72	$0.26	$5.12
Washougal	$2,084,424,229	$2.00	$1.34	$0.11	$3.45
Woodland	$1,409,164,540	$1.84	$1.18	$-	$3.02
Battle Ground	$7,301,584,068	$1.75	$0.96	$-	$2.71
Ridgefield	$2,292,909,917	$1.49	$0.05	$-	$1.54
Kalama	$713,252,641	$1.39	$0.41	$-	$1.79
	REGIONAL AVERAGES	$2.20	$1.19	$0.06	$3.44