West Valley School District votes to raise property taxes with $1.5 million levy
YAKIMA -- The school board voted unanimously to support a two-year levy to raise a million and a half dollars.
The West Valley Citizen's committee recommended the amount, to make up for money lost from state cuts. Voters will have their say in February.
Superintendent Mike Brophy tells KIMA that while it's hard to ask people to pay more in taxes, this is needed to maintain the education level.
"We've come too far and we've set the bar too high, to maintain that level of excellence we are going to run this levy for what it takes to maintain the current program," Brophy said.
The levy amount approved on Tuesday will be $8.4 million or $1.5 million more than the expiring levy. The amount was recommended to the Board by the West Valley Citizen's Committee, which has been grappling with uncertainty of state funding.
Brophy says the amount averages out to about $.40 cents per day, per household. He also tells KIMA that the Board will only certify the levy amount that they need to maintain current programs, thereby providing a rebate of sorts to voters.
"It was important to the Citizen's Committee that our community understands that we will only request that the Board certify a new levy amount next fall that they need to maintain current programs just in case the state cuts are less than anticipated," said Levy Co-Chair Jason Hoff.
"We're very hopeful that the cuts aren't as they're projected right now," Brophy said.
The West Valley Citizen's committee recommended the amount, to make up for money lost from state cuts. Voters will have their say in February.
Superintendent Mike Brophy tells KIMA that while it's hard to ask people to pay more in taxes, this is needed to maintain the education level.
"We've come too far and we've set the bar too high, to maintain that level of excellence we are going to run this levy for what it takes to maintain the current program," Brophy said.
The levy amount approved on Tuesday will be $8.4 million or $1.5 million more than the expiring levy. The amount was recommended to the Board by the West Valley Citizen's Committee, which has been grappling with uncertainty of state funding.
Brophy says the amount averages out to about $.40 cents per day, per household. He also tells KIMA that the Board will only certify the levy amount that they need to maintain current programs, thereby providing a rebate of sorts to voters.
"It was important to the Citizen's Committee that our community understands that we will only request that the Board certify a new levy amount next fall that they need to maintain current programs just in case the state cuts are less than anticipated," said Levy Co-Chair Jason Hoff.
"We're very hopeful that the cuts aren't as they're projected right now," Brophy said.
