‘For’ and ‘against’ statements needed for school district levy

The Blaine school district is looking for volunteers to write statements for and against its proposed replacement property tax levy, which will be on a February 11 special election ballot.

Legislation requires the district to appoint committees of up to three members each to prepare statements for the voters’ pamphlet. The district is asking people interested in writing statements to contact school district administrative assistant Tina Padilla at 360/332-5881.

The proposed four-year maintenance and operations levy will replace one that expires at the end of 2020. The district would use the money to “support the district’s educational maintenance and daily operations, including teachers, staff, classroom materials and textbooks,” according to a resolution the school board passed on November 25.

Taxpayers would pay less for the replacement levy than the current levy. Currently, property owners in the Blaine school district pay about $1.39 per $1,000 of assessed value annually for the maintenance and operations levy. The replacement levy would tax voters at approximately $1.26 per $1,000 in assessed value in 2021, and rise to $1.30 per $1,000 by 2024.

The levy needs a 50 percent vote to pass. Ballots will be mailed January 20 for the February 11 special election.