How School Levies Will be Used

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By Lena Vargas

Summary

TRI-CITIES-- Voters passed all the levies in local school districts. We wanted to know when the money will start making changes to your kid's classroom.

Story Published: Feb 10, 2010 at 7:15 PM PST

How School Levies Will be Used
TRI-CITIES-- Voters passed all the levies in local school districts. We wanted to know when the money will start making changes to your kid's classroom.

For Richland the levy means libraries within the schools will get the books they need and the staffing. It also means lots of extra-curricular activities and sports will be funded.

The tax also pays for the less exciting bills of a school like electricity and other utilities. Bottom-line, it makes up for budget cuts from the state.

Richland’s Superintendent Jean Lane thanks the taxpayers and the media for getting the word out.

“Ooh this is just amazing! To pass the levy is wonderful. But to pass it at the highest percentage we've had in years--that's even better. It gives such an outstanding message to all our teachers and staff that the community supports ya,” said Lane.

Richland says it will begin spending the new money as soon as it comes in through property taxes this April. Last year, federal stimulus dollars helped fill the gap made by state budget cuts.

Meanwhile the Kennewick School District will spend most of its replacement levy money on staffing. That's everyone from music teachers, to custodians, to school nurses.

It will also spend some of the money on the arts, extra-curricular activities and sports. Again, in this district the money will not add, only keep things as they are, without cutting programs.

The Pasco School District levy is also making up for a budget hole created by state cuts. Last year it filled that $14 million hole by moving money around, using its rainy day fund and cutting $5 million worth of expenses.

Pasco levy money will pay for sports, the arts, teaching materials and new books.