Othello voters to decide fate of Educational Programs and Operations levy
Dec. 12—OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a three-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election on Feb. 14.
The levy would replace one approved by district voters in 2020. If it is approved, the OSD would collect slightly more than $2.8 million in 2024, $3.05 million in 2025 and $3.3 million in 2026. Because it's a school levy, the proposal requires a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.
If it's approved, property owners would pay an estimated $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That's unchanged from the current levy. The Washington Legislature changed the way levies are funded in 2018, and $1.50 is the maximum levy amount.
Othello will qualify for levy equalization funds from the state if the levy is approved. Officially "local effort assistance," it's a program that provides additional funding to districts that pass a levy but have relatively lower property values.
District officials estimated Othello would receive about $5.8 million per year in levy equalization for the three years of the levy, if it's approved.
Othello Superintendent Pete Perez wrote in a press release that the levy and levy equalization account for about 11% of the district's budget. Ed Petersen, OSD director of public relations, wrote the levy allows the district to pay for programs and staff that aren't funded through other sources.
Most school operations are funded through the state or through federal programs — or at least are partially funded.
"For example, the state doesn't provide funding for us to have a full-time counselor or nurse at each elementary school," Perez wrote.
District officials use levy money to plug the gap between state and federal funding and the actual cost to provide some of the programs. For the 2021-22 school year, Perez estimated that about 48% of levy funding was used for staff salaries and benefits.
About 8% of levy funds go to facility operations and maintenance, and about 20% to district operations, Petersen wrote.
About 16% pays for athletics and other activities, which are almost fully funded locally. That includes some music and art funding, along with activities like field trips.
Ballots will be mailed to district voters in late January and must be postmarked by or on Feb. 14 to be counted. A ballot drop box will be open at the Adams County Public Services building in Othello, located at 425 E. Main St.
Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
