SPRINGDALE, Wash. — The Mary Walker School District is counting on local residents to help fund programs and athletics as it faces potential cuts if its levy isn’t renewed in three weeks.
The district, located about an hour north of Spokane, ran two levies last year that both failed. The superintendent says they had to lay off teachers and staff and now face more cuts unless voters pass this new levy.
The levy would cost taxpayers $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value. On a $300,000 home, that adds up to $375 per year or $31.25 per month.
“Teachers, counselors, nurses and support staff, we’re looking at our special education programs, building maintenance staff and facilities, safety and security on our campus,” said Todd Spear, superintendent of the Mary Walker School District.
The district relies heavily on levy funding to provide athletics and activities for students. Because the last two levies failed, they had to make cuts to those programs. If the next levy fails, the district might not be able to provide athletics or activities at all.
“Athletics is the one that gets a lot of kids to school, that keeps them in school, that puts them around a lot of positive adults and builds a lot of characteristics that we hope leads them to that next level and that next step after they graduate,” Spear said.
Approving the levy would also help the district qualify for local effort assistance funding from the state. That could mean an extra $500,000 per year for the next four years.
Opponents say the district’s test scores are too low to warrant more investment from the community. This levy asks for a slightly smaller property tax increase than the last two, but it’s still too steep for some residents.
“We already pay for school taxes once. Now we’re being asked to pay for it again. I just don’t think that’s fair to the community. If we got something for it, it would probably be different, but that’s absolutely not the case,” said Gary Witherspoon, who opposes the levy.
People who oppose the levy believe the state should provide more funding for schools. Currently, the state does not provide funding for athletics and activities.
Ballots are due in Stevens County on February 10th.
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