Students at Granite Falls School District need levies to provide basic programs.

The Granite Falls School District Board of Directors will run two levies on the February 14 ballot.

The cost will be approximately the same as what taxpayers are currently paying. The School Board did not increase the levy amount due to the economic issues we all face.

The replacement School Programs and Operation Levy provides funding for “day to day” expenses such as textbooks, school bus transportation, library books, staff support such as class advisors and coaches, daily upkeep and maintenance to all facilities and grounds, and utilities (heat/phones) and insurance.

The replacement Technology and School Improvements Levy provides funds for technology upgrades (computer hardware, software, applications, licensing, etc) or large maintenance repairs such as painting a school.

The levies are not a new tax. The replacement levies will collect funds for 2013 and 2014 to “renew” the levies that expire December 31, 2012—think of a magazine subscription that needs to be “renewed”. Levy funding is used for “day to day” expenses much like a household budget for groceries or paying the phone bill.

The levies are divided into two separate issues for one simple reason – the District can capture state funds from the sale of timber within the District (approximately $50,000 more per year). If the levies were combined into one, the District would lose those additional funds.

Superintendent Linda Hall said, “The Board understands the economic issues facing all of us so they opted not to increase the levy amount; taxpayers will pay approximately the same amount they are currently paying. Levy funds are important to provide such basic necessities as heat and lights, up-to-date technology and textbooks for student learning, and maintenance needs to keep our schools clean. The levies represent 22  percent  of our daily operating budget and the levies have never been more critical to the operation of our schools.”

School districts ask local voters to pick up the cost of education that the state does not pay for through levies. Levies help support current programs and services to pay for things such as textbooks, school bus transportation, staff support, extra-curricular programs, upkeep to schools and fields, utilities (heat/phones), and computers for student learning. The levies provide 22 percent of the district’s daily operating budget.