School district officials dispute tax increase claims in proposed levies

CHENEY — School district officials pushed back against claims at a Dec. 2 school board meeting that a proposed education programs and operations levy this February is really a disguised tax increase.

School board members approved putting two levies on the Feb. 9 special election ballot at their meeting last Wednesday — an EP&O levy taxing property owners $1.65 per every $1,000 of assessed valuation and a capital projects levy placing a 10 cent tax on every $1,000 of valuation. The levies are replacing existing measures taxing property owners $1.42 and 45 cents per $1,000 of valuation respectiv...