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Proposition No. 1
Submitted by
University Place School District No. 83
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the University Place School District No. 83 levy the following excess taxes for the purposes of replacing an expiring levy, for essential Educational General Fund maintenance and operation expenses on all taxable property within the District:
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Collection Year
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Approximate Levy
Rate per $1,000
Assessed Value
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Levy Amount
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1999
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$4.44
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$5,943,000
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2000
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$4.50
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$6,180,720
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2001
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$4.57
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$6,427,929
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2002
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$4.64
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$6,685,067
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All as specified in District Resolution No. 622-2-25-98?
Explanatory Statement:
This renewal M&O levy would replace the current levy that expires in December. In the November 1997 general election, voters authorized school districts to seek up to four-year Maintenance and Operation levies instead of two-year levies; this proposal would cover four years.
Approval would raise the combined school bond and levy tax rate by one cent per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for 1999 for a total rate of $7.79 per $1,000 for UPSD schools that year. After 1999, the combined rate for M&O and bond/capital debt would decline by one cent in 2000, decrease another 54 cents in 2001, and decline an additional six cents in 2002. All rates continue to be under the 1995 rate.
The levy revenues account for 19% of the district’s operating costs and support many educational programs and services: staffing levels for reasonably small classes; ongoing training and curriculum work to sustain quality instruction and curriculum; alternative education services; pupil transportation on hazardous routes not funded by the state; textbooks and other instructional materials; co-curricular student activities and athletics; ongoing facility and grounds maintenance; facility/campus security; and swimming pool operations for school and community use.
Statement For:
VoteYes - University Place Schools - 4 Year Levy
Federal and state funds for education constitute approximately 81% of the cost of operating the current basic education programs for University Place schools. The other 19% is funded by local tax dollars. The majority of this funding is for textbooks and other instructional materials, staff training, ground supervision and security.
Some have questioned the need for a new levy. This is not a new levy but a renewal of an expiring levy.
Some have questioned this levy as being a tax increase. For one year the overall rate for schools is increased over the existing levy by $.01 per $1,000 dollars. That is $1.00 for a $100,000 house in 1999. Rates then decline for the next three years.
The hallmark of University Place schools for 100 years as been quality education. Curtis High School graduates are successful scientists, chefs, computer experts, cartoonists, engineers, local business owners, teachers, military leaders, mechanics, homemakers, accountants, and astronauts in training. University Place schools have made student dreams possible.
The point is kids ! Please vote Yes on April 28
Statement prepared by: Douglas D. Quail & C.L.(Cookie) Whitling, The University Place Citizen's Committee for School Levies
Statement Against:
The first attempt to pass a 25 Million Dollar School Levy payable over the next 4 years has failed. This requested levy would have given the school district a 33 Million Dollar Budget each year to educate less than 5,000 students. More University Place voters became aware of the high impact on their property tax and turned out to vote no.
The Impact: Not mentioned by the district is the 32 Million Dollar Bond Levy passed in 1992 for which we are paying $2.7902 per thousand assessed valuation. In addition there is another levy of .6327 per thousand with 3 years to go. These added to their proposed 4 year levies impose a tax burden of $ 7.86 in 1999, $7.92 in 2000, $7.36 in 2001 and $7.43 in 2002. Multiply these by the number of $1,000 increments of your assessed valuation and you have your extra tax burden. That’s not all, add 20 percent of your property tax that goes to the state for schools. This is exorbitant and unfair.
We must put some sanity in this districts spending. They must be forced to operate within the State and Federal allocations for education. Many other school districts do, its time for University Place to do likewise. However, let no one accuse the no voters as being against schools. We do generously support our school through the many other tax revenues we contribute to; but enough is enough. Please vote no. Reject it again.
Statement prepared by: Vincent Policani & Richard G. Adams
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