School Board Plans for Possible Renewal Levy Failure

The has a back-up plan in case the fails.

They’ll put it in front of voters again in November.

The deadline to submit issues for the November ballot is Aug. 8, the day after the Aug. 7 election. To be safe, the board is taking the steps to put the renewal levy on the November ballot now, with plans to remove it if the renewal passes in August. The board approved a measure to put the renewal levy on the November ballot at its meeting on Tuesday night.

The 6.8-mill renewal levy brings in about $5.2-million for the district each year. The majority of that money goes to the general operating fund, and a portion goes to permanent improvements. The renewal would last for three years.

Board President David Tryon said the levy brings in about 10 percent of the district’s operating budget and that losing it would create a “dire financial situation.” Member Mark Dosen added that this could include layoffs or other cuts.

Renewal levies do not raise taxes, but rather, continue the current taxes. According to information from the district, the levy costs taxpayers about $158 per $100,000 of property value each year. The levy expires at the end of 2012.