Our Board of Directors has approved a replacement levy election for the February 11, 2020 ballot (click here to read the full resolution). The current levy expires at the end of 2020. Here are some important facts:
The levy rate is increasing to $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed property value. (The district's bond rate will fall to $1.65 per $1,000, resulting in a net tax increase of 45 cents per $1,000, possibly less). This is lower than the 7-year average of $2.66
The replacement levy will generate about $6.6 million in local revenue in 2021.
Levy funds cannot be used for basic education. They may only be used for enhancements beyond what the state's basic education funding model provides.
This is not a new tax, this is a replacement of the current levy which expires in 2020.
Levy funds impact nearly every program in our district from athletics to academics. We are able to provide full-time school counselors, nursing staff, athletic options, extended learning programs, additional classroom support and much more because of levy funds.
Our levy helps us keep class sizes comparatively low. Our levy helps us provide behavioral support in our schools.
Our levy helps purchase, maintain, and replace important classroom technology resources.
Washington’s education funding model leaves a gap between what the state funds for education and what our students in Centralia need for success. Local school levies are voter-approved sources of funding that are on the ballot every 2-4 years. We collect local levy revenue through a tax on properties in our school district boundaries. The current rate per $1,000 in property value is $1.50, which was the current legal maximum for our district during the last election cycle. Voters approved the current CSD Enhancements & Operations levy in February 2018. The state has raised the limit on local levies to $2.50 per $1,000 in property value, however the district receives no additional funding unless voters approve a new levy at a higher rate.
Register to Vote!
You must be legally registered to vote in a school levy election. Washington State makes it easy to register online, by mail, or in person (at a county elections office). Click here to register to vote...
