Forget flowers, chocolates and sappy Valentines.

Thurston County’s eight public school districts hope voters will show some love by voting yes in the Feb. 14 election.

All the districts are running maintenance and operations levy measures to replace local taxes that expire this year. In most cases, levy taxes generate more than 20 percent of a school district’s operating budget.

“Over the years the levy has taken over more and more of what we used to think of as basic education,” Graeme Sackrison,  co-chairman of North Thurston Citizens for Schools. “North Thurston’s levy, the current one, represents 22 percent of their revenues. It’s a huge impact and it goes for teachers, maintenance and bus drivers. It’s not simply additional nice to have things; it’s the real substance of education. I call it the meat and potatoes.”

In addition to an M&O levy, the Olympia School District is asking voters to approve a 20-year, $97.8 million bond measure to build a middle school, construct a facility for the Olympia Regional Learning Academy, update Garfield Elementary School and work on repairs and safety upgrades at nearly every building in the district.

“Taxes won’t increase if both of these pass,” said Olympia School District spokesman Ryan Betz. “The tax rate citizens are paying right now is $5.44 per $1,000 of assessed value. We estimate the same rate will stay for the next four years.”

Running levy campaigns every two years can get costly, and that’s why Tumwater, Yelm, Olympia and North Thurston Public Schools coordinated their four-year M&O measures. They’re joint marketing their campaigns with “Yes – Schools” window stickers, signs and advertisements.  

Supporters have been waving signs at major intersections, meeting with service clubs and sending out information to voters by mail.  

“Our message is quality schools equal strong community,” said Ruth Weigelt, co-chairwoman of North Thurston Citizens for Schools. “It’s not only about our children, but it’s about our community as a whole.”

What’s on the Feb. 14 ballot

GRIFFIN SCHOOL DISTRICT

The 670-student district is seeking $2.225 million in 2013 and $2.332 million in 2014. The estimated levy rate would be $2.32 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2013 and $2.43 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2014.

The replacement levy serves as 28 percent of the district’s annual budget, school officials say.

NORTH THURSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Serving nearly 14,000 students, South Sound’s largest district is asking for $30.7 million in 2013, $31.7 million in 2014, $32.5 million in 2015 and $33 million in 2016.

Tax levy rates will range from $3.50 to $3.59 per $1,000 assessed value.

About 22 percent of the district’s operating budget is supported by levy dollars.

If the ballot measure does not pass on its first or second attempt, the district would need to cut about $39 million of levy-funded programs, officials say.

OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

The 9,400-student district is seeking a four-year M&O levy that would collect $21.98 million in 2013, $22.46 million in 2014, $22.96 million in 2015 and $23.46 million in 2016.

Tax rates would be $3.11 per $1,000 assessed value in 2013, $3.17 per $1,000 in 2014, $3.21 per $1,000 in 2015 and $3.22 per $1,000 in 2016.

About 24 percent of the district’s budget is generated by levy funds, district officials say.

The district also is asking voters to approve a 20-year, $97.8 million bond to build a new middle school on the campus of Centennial Elementary School to accommodate growth in the district’s southeast area, build a new facility for the Olympia Regional Learning Academy, update Garfield Elementary School and make other capital improvements around the district.

If the levy is approved, the owner of a $250,000 home will pay about $1,360 in levy and bond taxes in 2013.

RAINIER SCHOOL DISTRICT

If approved, Rainier’s M&O levy would collect $1.69 million a year from 2013-16.

Levy tax rates would range from $3.87 to $3.96 per $1,000 of assessed value.

About 23 percent of the 930-student district’s operating budget is funded by levy dollars, officials say.

If the measure does not pass, district officials will need to cut about $1.7 million in programs.

ROCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT

The 2,400-student district is seeking between $3.5 million and $3.96 million a year from 2013-16. Levy tax rates will range from $3.65 per $1,000 assessed value to $3.95 per assessed value.

Levy dollars make up about 22.6 percent of the district’s operating budget.

TENINO SCHOOL DISTRICT

Voters in this 1,275-student district are being asked for between $2.8 million and $2.884 million a year for four years. Tax rates would be $3.37 per $1,000 assessed value every year of the levy.

Local levy dollars represent about 20 percent of the district’s total budget, school officials say.

TUMWATER SCHOOL DISTRICT

If approved by voters, the 6,300-student district will collect between $13 million and $14.7 million a year for four years. Property owners would pay between $3.18 and $3.29 per $1,000 assessed value for four years.

Based on those rates, an owner of a $250,000 home would pay $795 in levy taxes in 2013 and $822.50 in 2016.

Funding from the levy represents about 20 percent of the district’s budget, officials say.

For the owner of a home valued at $250,000 in 2012, the estimated tax rate would be $757.

YELM COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Voters are being asked to approve a four-year M&O levy that would collect $9.3 million in 2013, $9.7 million in 2014, $10.1 million in 2015 and $10.7 million in 2016. Tax rates would range from $3.71 to $3.92 per $1,000 assessed value.

If the measure does not pass in 2012, the 5,500-student district will need to cut about $11 million in programs, school officials say.

Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433

lpemberton@theolympian.com

www.theolympian.com/edblog