Two months after saying no, Orting voters approve school district levy
After rejecting it in February, voters in the Orting School District passed an operational levy April 28 with more than 58 percent of the vote.
The new superintendent, Tony Apostle, credited the school board and district for doing more to educate the public on how the levy helps pay for operations in the five-school district.
“I think the Orting voters made a decision and reached into hearts to vote for children,” Apostle told The News Tribune.
In February, voters denied the district $2.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value by 10 votes. The Pierce County Auditor’s Office reported 3,176 votes were cast, with a narrow rejection —50.16 percent against the measure.
After the failure, the district held public meetings to ask voters why the ballot measure didn’t pass. Many told the district they did not receive enough information on how the money would be spent, and others said they were tax-tired, Apostle said.
In April’s special election, 1,018 more voters cast ballots on OSD’s proposition than in February, according to the Pierce County Auditor. The measure was the only item on the Pierce County ballot this month.
The levy accounts for 9 percent of the district’s budget. The district is estimated to collect $3.9 million in 2021 and $4.1 million in 2022, according to the levy webpage. The money covers after-school activities, athletics, transportation and increase the state’s provided funding for staff.
The $2.07 per $1,000 of assessed value is less than the current $2.18 Orting School District residents pay.
