OLYMPIA, Wash. - Billions of dollars are on the line today as voters consider school levies on their local ballots.
A total of 165 school districts are asking voters to approve more than $4.6 billion in property taxes for maintenance and operation levies. And 32 districts have capital project levies worth $835 million. Also, four districts with $2.9 million with school bus levies, and 11 districts with $859 million with bond issues.
Clearly, a lot of money is at stake for taxpayers, and a lot of important programs for students.
Traditionally, Washington state voters tend to pass school levies, which often can amount to 20 percent of a district budget. But this year, it's a lot of money at a time when many families are feeling the pinch.
Some school districts have already come up with contingency plans if their levy is not passed, but they're not pretty.
In Puyallup, the districts levy failure proposal involves cutting sports teams, after school activities, and student transportation, not to mention more than 100 jobs.
"This is dramatic. This is substantial, and this is reality for us," said Diana Seeley, Puyallup School Board President.
Students and parents have tried to get the word out in districts across Western Washington, but some voters insist they are not willing to loosen their purse strings.
"We spend 50 percent or more of our state budget already on schools. Tax levies are in excess of that. At some point people say, 'This is too much gold-plating,'" said Ken Morse, T.E.A. party organizer.
Those ballots must be either postmarked or dropped in official drop boxes by day's end.
The key, say people on both sides of issue, is to make sure that voters make their voices heard by getting their ballots in on time. 'In on time' means ballots must be either postmarked by today or dropped in one of your local drop boxes. And be warned, due to budget cuts, there are fewer this year than usual.
