Community Education

Peninsula School Board approves levies for Feb. 14 ballot

The Peninsula School Board on Wednesday approved two levy measures for the Feb. 14 ballot that together would help fund operations, security and technology.

Operations Levy

The three-year Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (Proposition 1) would replace the current levy, which expires at the end of 2023. The operations levy accounts for about 18 percent of the district’s budget and covers items not fully funded by the state, such as nurses, counselors, educators, athletics, arts, music, clubs, transportation and preventative maintenance projects.

“Renewing the expiring Educational Programs and Operations Levy that voters overwhelmingly approved in 2020 is critical to maintaining the quality programs at all our local schools,” said Superintendent Krestin Bahr.

Security and Technology Levy

The six-year Safety, Security and Technology Levy (Proposition 2) would pay for secure building access controls, emergency communications systems, security cameras and cybersecurity services. It would also fund student and staff devices, and classroom instructional equipment.

“The Safety, Security and Technology Levy will help to keep our schools safe and equip students and staff with the technology they need to succeed,” Bahr said. “And this levy will be the only funding source for safety and security projects since the state does not currently fund these resources.”

What they cost

The estimated tax rates for the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy are: $1.13 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2024, $1.12 per $1,100 in 2025 and $1.10 per $1,000 in 2026. The levy would generate $27 million in 2024, just over $28 million in 2025 and just over $29 million in 2026.

The Safety, Security and Technology Levy rate would be a flat 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value over six years, beginning in 2024. The levy would generate annual amounts increasing from $6 million in 2024 to just under $7 million in 2029.

Peninsula School District officials note that the combined rates of both levies (if approved), plus the existing bond rate is estimated to be $1.82 per $1,000 in 2024, lower than this year’s levy-plus-bond rate of $2.01 in 2022.

Harbor Ridge Middle School principal Brian Wickens waves to an arriving bus on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Christina T Henry