SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools is asking voters this November to approve a replacement levy that would continue funding services including after-school clubs, school nurses and curriculum materials.
The levy accounts for about 15% of the district’s budget, according to Superintendent Adam Swinyard. It would replace the current levy approved by voters in 2024 and maintain the existing tax rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
For a home valued at $350,000, the median property value in Spokane County, the levy would cost about $875 a year. While the tax rate would stay the same, Swinyard said inflation could increase the dollar amount some homeowners pay.
“The dollar amount increases with inflation, so as assessed value goes up across the community, the dollar amount increases with that inflation,” Swinyard said. “But the rate stays at that $2.50 mark, which is what was on the ballot last time.”
Most of the district’s funding comes from the state, Swinyard said. However, he said the levy would not prevent further budget cuts.
“Even with the levy, we have laid off over 200 workers over the last few years, and we are going to have to continue to reduce the amount of employees that we have,” Swinyard said. “So this replacement levy continues the services we have and we will still have to make reductions as a school district.”
A town hall scheduled for tonight to explain the proposal was canceled because of low attendance. District officials said public engagement remains important as voters consider the measure.
“The school district belongs to the community,” Swinyard said. “We are the employees for our community, and we have been hired by the community to educate our youth.”
The district’s next workshop on the proposed levy is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Ferris High School.
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