Peninsula voters approve $25 million school levy by 61 percent, assuring no program cuts

A $25 million levy to fund continuing operations of the Peninsula School District was approved handily by voters last week.

As of Friday, with 22,090 ballots counted, Proposition 1 had 13,674 yes votes, or 61.9 percent, and 8,405 no votes, or 38 percent. Turnout for the Feb. 11 election was 44.6 percent, fairly high for a special election.

An operating levy needs only a simple majority to pass.

“I am delighted,” said acting superintendent Art Jarvis. “A year ago was the bond issue, so running a levy, we knew it would take some education. I am really proud of the community, this is huge for the school district.”

The three-year, $25 million levy represents about 18 percent of the district’s budget. It replaces an earlier three-year levy that is expiring.

It would equate to an annual tax rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, the same property owners are currently paying for the levy passed in 2016.

The 61 percent majority was “right where I thought it would land, within a couple percentages, said school board president Deborah Krishnadasan. “We’ve been out with the community a lot, and there’s been a lot of support and positive comments and reactions.”

A school district’s budget is a combination of state taxes and local taxes, with the local taxes approved through a levy. The $25 million equates to one in every six dollars in the Peninsula School District’s general fund, and goes directly toward educational programs and operations.

“It replaces the levy that expires. For all practical purposes, it is the same budget and same programs. We can now continue that without making program cuts,” Jarvis said.

“For a superintendent, there isn’t any greater relief than knowing the money is there to continue the programs,” he added.

Half of the districts’ classified staff — that is, non-teachers— is funded by the levy, along with maintenance, para-educators, office manager-secretaries, and athletic and music programs. To be exact, 72 percent of this levy pays for staff and staff training, and 28 percent pays for materials and supplies.

“There were two things that were difficult,” in this election, Jarvis said. “We passed a bond issue last February, and for people who are not affiliated with the schools, they wouldn’t know why we were back out here. That was one of the challenges.

“The second challenge was this was one of the first elections on the heel of the McCleary changes, so you had people out there thinking that the legislature made levies go away, and that isn’t true.”

The passing of the bond meant two new elementary schools will be built, along with the remodeling of two existing schools. The bond money cannot legally be used for daily operations for the school district.

“We are thrilled the community is supporting our schools,” Krishnadasan said. “ We continue to pass our levies well above the required percentage. I really think it is indicative of a community that continues to support schools, and makes the statement the Peninsula schools are supported by their district.”

Related story: Art Jarvis will be asked to re-up for another year.

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 8:51 PM.