Medical Lake School District renewal levy out for vote

Ballots for the renewal of the Medical Lake School District's maintenance and operations renewal levy went out last week.

If passed, the measure would renew the district's operations and maintenance levy annually for three years (2016, 2017 and 2018) on all taxable property within the district. The levy rate will be $2.20 per $1,000 assessed property valuation and will bring in approximately $1.2 million to the district per year. Ballots are due Feb. 10. In 2012 the district's renewal levy passed by a vote of 1,365-1,105.

"This levy is a renewal of a previous levy that was approved by district voters in 2012," Medical Lake Business Manager Don Johnson said. "It is staying the current rate."

Johnson explained that the levy represents 6 percent of the district's operating budget and helps pay for extracurricular activities, teachers for reduced classroom sizes and all-day kindergarten. According to Johnson, the district wasn't sure if they would be able to continue with all-day kindergarten.

"We had to look at all-day kindergarten and ask 'can we do it another year?'" Johnson said. "Once we saw test scores, we knew we had to do it."

The Medical Lake school board approved a resolution to propose the levy at its Nov. 18, 2014 meeting. After the meeting, the district and the Citizens For Medical Lake Schools have put together a fierce campaign for the levy, posting signs in local businesses and reaching out to community members.

"We've had great conversations with folks," Kim Headrick, Medical Lake School District Director of teaching and learning said. "It's been a great opportunity to talk about the things we do and the facts (about the levy)."

If the levy is approved, Johnson said the district would qualify for Local Effort Assistance (LEA), which is state-matching money that is paid on levies in districts with high tax rates due to low assessed valuations. Johnson said LEA would provide the school district with an additional $1.5 million per year.

"For us to run our maximum levy would be a very high cost compared to Cheney or a more typical district," Johnson said. "The LEA is a way the state equalizes it (the maximum levy) for poor property districts."

Fourteen local and county organizations have already endorsed the levy including the Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars, Friends for Children and the West Plains Chamber of Commerce.

At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Medical Lake City Council voted unanimously to support the levy.

During the meeting, Mayor John Higgins reminded the council that many of the city's activities and sports programs take place in the school gyms.

"We need to try and help out any way we can," Higgins said.

Former Medical Lake High School principal Russ Brown, who served as the treasurer of the district's levy and bond committee, praised the city for supporting the schools.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.