Why is the school district putting a Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy on the ballot?

• The Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy can be run for up to four years. The current levy was approved by voters in 2014 and will expire in 2018. This levy would replace the one that is expiring and would continue local levy funding for Snohomish schools through 2022.

What would the Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy pay for?

• The Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy funds the difference between what the state provides and what it actually costs to educate Snohomish students. The levy would support services and costs not funded – or are only partially funded – by the state’s basic education allocation. Examples
  include:
  • Extra and co-curricular activities such as athletics, music, drama, and clubs
  • Student programs including the summer Science & Arts Academy, ACT testing for high school juniors, alternative education, bilingual education and preschool programming
  • School safety including school resource officers at the high schools
  • Well-maintained, clean and welcoming schools, facilities and grounds
  • Student bus transportation services
  • Instructional and support staff including substitute teachers
  • Staff professional development and training
  • Special education

What would the Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy cost (year, levy tax rate, levy amount)?

Due to legislative changes in state-provided school funding, the Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy rate is scheduled to drop from the current $3.24/$1,000 assessed value (2018) down to $1.50/$1,000 assessed value (2019-2022).

• 2018 - $3.79 - $29,000,000 (voter approved rate - actual collected is $3.23 and $28,338,071.63)
• 2019 - $1.50 - $15,085,000
• 2020 - $1.50 - $17,350,000
• 2021 - $1.50 - $19,950,000
• 2022 - $1.50 - $22,945,000

Note: Tax rates or levy amounts in years 2019-2022 represent projected estimates per $1,000 of assessed property value. The school district cannot collect more than the figures noted above.