School Boards approve operational levies during special meeting

The Lind and Ritzville School Boards hosted a special meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, with the purpose to discuss and approve resolutions for Replacement Educational Programs and Operation levies for each district.

Previously referred to as Maintenance and Operation (M&O) levies, the designation has changed this year, partially due to the “levy swipe” at the state level.

Superintendent Matt Ellis explained the levies will run at a rate of $1.50 this year, but have always been at a higher rate in the past years.

The total amount to be collected is $465,000 for the Lind School District, and $596,719 for the Ritzville School District.

While taxpayers will see a reduction in the amount collected locally from the levy, starting in 2019, they will have to pay more in state tax.

The state tax will be used to provide school districts statewide with the same amount of money they used to collect through their previous M&O levies.

The $1.50 is the maximum amount that can be requested and is based on a 10 percent inflation rate on assessed valuation.

School district voters will see an increase in local school taxes in 2018, but Business Manager Dana Telecky explained it will decrease in 2019.

Telecky reiterated the Districts collect a specific dollar amount, not a specified rate.

The assessed valuation rate per $1,000 will be determined next fall, Telecky said.

The Lind and Ritzville School Boards took a separate roll call vote, with Resolution 2017-007 passing unanimously for Ritzville, and Resolution 17/18-1 passing unanimously for Lind.

The Replacement Educational Programs and Operation levies will appear on the Feb. 13 special election ballot.

During the special meeting, the Lind School Board also voted in Josh Hernandez as a board director to replace Rena Wahl’s position.

Heidi Hunt also conducted the Oath of Office for Hernandez, Laurinda Ritz, Marci Miller, Layne Iltz and Scott Carruth.

Adam Labes was absent from the meeting, but took the Oath of Office prior to the school board meeting on Dec. 18.