CAMANO: Replacement levy on Feb. 13 ballot (SCSD)

The Stanwood-Camano School District posted this item in the news section of their website on Jan. 22, 2024.

Stanwood-Camano School District voters will soon vote on the district’s replacement Educational Programs and Operations levy that renews funding for a variety of programs, personnel, athletics, extracurriculars, and safety needs not covered by the state.

The Stanwood-Camano School Board in October voted unanimously to ask voters for a four-year replacement levy during the February 13 special election. 

“This is a critical amount that funds some very, very direct support in our classrooms,” Stanwood-Camano School District Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh said. “Without this levy funding, we could be facing the deep cuts and challenges we are seeing other districts face.”

This replacement levy represents about 16% of the district’s annual budget. Without the levy funding, the district would need to cut its budget. And because investments in people and positions are about 90% of the budget, there would likely be layoffs resulting in higher class sizes and elimination of programs, including within athletics. Where and to what degree classes and programs are reduced would be decided later with input from students, staff, and the community as part of a Budget Reduction Plan where everything is on the table.

The levy rate is estimated to be at $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed property value — or, for the owner of a $500,000 home, about $59 per month. If voters approve this replacement levy, the school district’s total tax rate including all levies and bonds will be lower than it was in 2022, before the Facilities and Tech levy expired.

“It is not an additional tax. This levy will replace our existing-but-expiring EP&O levy,” Rumbaugh said. “If approved, tax payers would simply continue paying about what they’re currently paying.”

That’s mostly because school levies ask voters to approve a capped, limited amount of money that can be collected. So when property assessed value goes up, the local levy rate generally goes down so that district’s don’t collect more than what voters approved.

Rumbaugh said that after voters twice rejected the school district’s Technology and Maintenance levy in 2022, various stakeholders — including families, staff, and community members — were recommending seeking to replace the expiring EP&O levy and not seek additional funds to offset the rejected Technology and Maintenance levy’s revenues at this time.

Neighboring school districts like Arlington and Lakewood are also running an EP&O levy on their Feb. 13 ballot. Arlington is seeking a tax rate of $1.65 per $1,000 of assessed property value and Lakewood is seeking a tax rate of $1.73 — both more than the Stanwood-Camano levy’s estimated rate of $1.42.

“Among the 14 Snohomish County school districts, only Edmonds, Darrington, and Index had lower tax rates for their EP&O levy in 2022,” Rumbaugh said. “We aim to keep the tax rate low.”

School Board President Al Schreiber said it’s important to balance the needs of the community with the needs of our students.

“This replacement levy continues the district’s efforts, as outlined in our Strategic Plan, to prepare students for success now and into the future,” Schreiber said. “It bridges the gap between what we are allocated by the state and the actual costs for schools. The replacement levy also creates opportunities for our students to build knowledge and skills to help prepare them for the future of their choice.”

If voters approve the replacement levy, the district is expected to collect about $16.1 million from the Educational Programs and Operations levy in 2025. Voters previously renewed this levy in February 2020 to be used to maintain staffing levels, athletics and extracurricular activities, and other essential services — which would continue if renewed again by voters.

“The existing levy pays to fill a significant gap in state funding,” Rumbaugh said. “For example, the state only funds us for 0.8 of a position for school safety, and the state doesn’t fund sports at all because they don’t consider that under the definition of ‘basic education.’ That’s why the state allows school district’s to ask communities for funding to support programs and personnel important to individual communities.”

The superintendent said both federal and state funding also fall short in other areas, such as Special Education needs and unfunded mandates — where state law requires districts hire staff but doesn’t provide a funding source.

“This replacement levy will help provide our students with the high-quality educational opportunities they deserve,” Rumbaugh said.

To learn more about registering to vote, verifying voter registration status, and directions on how to vote, visit our Voter Registration webpage.

STANWOOD-CAMANO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Proposition No. 1 Replacement Levy