Voters in Brinnon are saying 'Yes' to a two-year school maintenance-and-operation replacement levy. Unofficial results from the Feb. 10 vote and subsequent ballot count on Feb. 12 show a 61-percent approval rate.
As of Friday there were 360 yes votes to 230 no votes for a 61 percent approval rate in the Brinnon election. The measure needs a simple majority – 50 percent plus 1 – for the measure to be approved.
Voters in Brinnon School District 46 were asked to approve collection of an additional $572,000 in property tax over two years starting in 2011. The levy would replace a two-year maintenance and operations levy that expires in 2010.
If approved, property owners would pay $1.04 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which would provide $278,885 for 2011, and $1.10 per $1,000 of property, which would raise $293,661 in 2012.
The dollar amount in 2011 is the exact same amount collected in 2010, according to Val Schindler, Brinnon school board chairwoman. Schindler said the goal is to avoid putting any additional financial burden on Brinnon residents during the recession.
In 2012, the levy amount would increase by 5.5 percent, which Schindler said would cover any cost-of-living increases for the two years.
Money generated from property taxes account for 28 percent of the district’s operating budget. The money goes toward textbooks, materials and unfunded special education requirements. It also helps fund preschool.
Sequim schools
A handful of taxpayers in Jefferson County also were asked Tuesday to consider a three-year maintenance-and-operations levy for Sequim School District 323. Those voters in the Gardiner area voted 84-72 for the levy. The measure is passing handily, overall, with Clallam County voters at the 60 percent approval mark.
It would replace a current levy that affects Clallam County residents and Gardiner-area residents who are in the Sequim School District.
The levy would provide $4,050,000 for collection in 2011, $4,900,000 in 2012 and $5,780,000 in 2013. Property owners would be taxed $0.98, $1.19 and $1.40 per $1,000 of property value in respective years.
