By now, you’ve heard that the White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) has two important propositions on Washington’s Feb. 10 special election ballot: a 20-year, $77.8 million bond to create a unified, renovated campus as Whitson Elementary crumbles, plus the renewal of its levy through 2029.
Across Klickitat and Skamania counties, however, seven other districts have levies up for a vote. And whether or not you have children moving through the public education system, we’d like to convey a simple message — support our schools, because robust learning opportunities benefit us all.
Apart from White Salmon’s bond, all the propositions are enrichment levies, also known as educational programs and operations (EP&O) or maintenance and operations (M&O) levies. These help fill funding holes left by the state and go towards things like teachers, support staff, extracurricular activities, materials and more.
Of note, none are new taxes — each enrichment levy replaces one set to expire at the end of 2026. To calculate what that could mean for you financially, multiply the assessed (not appraised) value of your home and/or business by the levy rate, and then divide that by $1,000 for your annual amount. The length and rate of enrichment levies, which vary by district, are as follows:
• Centerville School District: $1.86 in 2027, $1.69 in 2028
• Glenwood School District: $1.03 in 2027, $0.98 in 2028
• Klickitat School District: $1.54 in 2027 through 2030
• Lyle School District: $0.86 in 2027, $0.75 in 2028 and $0.67 in 2029
• Skamania School District: $1.10 in 2027, $1.11 in 2028 and $1.12 in 2029
• Stevenson-Carson School District: $1.34 in 2027, $1.25 in 2028 and $1.18 in 2029
• Trout Lake School District: $1.90 in 2027, $1.95 in 2028 and $2.00 in 2029
• White Salmon Valley School District: $1.61 in 2027, $1.60 in 2028 and $1.59 in 2029
Columbia Gorge News readily understands that these propositions aren’t insignificant for many, especially for low-income homeowners or those on a fixed income, as well as renters who will likely see costs passed down by landlords. But WSVSD, quite frankly, is past due for a major facilities update. And if you had to continue a tax, in our view, school district levies should be at the top of your list.
In Trout Lake, for instance, the district’s levy accounts for about 13% of its general fund budget. Without it, students could see larger class sizes, fewer field trips and even cuts to athletic programs. Further, just like childcare, investing in schools can actually lower a community’s overall tax burden in the future.
A study completed by the University of California-Los Angeles last December found that interventions, such as school completion initiatives and comprehensive school supports, generate significant public benefits, with benefit-cost ratios ranging from $2 to more than $12 for every dollar invested. Another, more general paper published by Northwestern University asserts that every dollar invested in schools generates a $2 return.
Put simply, better educational opportunities lead to higher wages down the line, effectively increasing a community’s tax base. There’s also an abundance of research demonstrating how proactive spending on learning reduces future reliance on welfare programs, criminal justice spending and a myriad of other cost-savings downstream.
If you can’t do it solely for the kids, do it for your own pocketbook — vote “yes” on schools. And for seniors or disabled residents, contact your respective county to see if you qualify for a tax exemption, which depends on income.
All voters must turn ballots in, or have them postmarked, by Feb. 10. Visit Klickitat or Skamania county’s for more information, and to review each proposition.
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