KSD Considering Raising Levy Rate? Will Discuss at Oct. 27th Meeting
Some of the updates sent out by the Kennewick School District to parents and media included financial news.
The Kennewick School District is going to discuss at their Oct. 27th board meeting, possibly raising the current levy rate from $1.66 incrementally over time.
Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce and Vic Roberts, who is the executive director of business operations, presented a trio of potential options concerning the levy.
They include leaving the rate where it is, incrementally raising it over time, or raising it to the limit of $2.50, which is the max allowed by the state.
Of the three KSD preferred the incremental proposal, and it will be discussed later this month. The specifics of how much it would go up over how long were not yet revealed.
WHAT ARE LEVIES USED FOR AND HOW ARE THEY ASSESSED?
The levy rate is the amount citizens pay per $1,000 of assessed home value (property value). The current levy rate is $1.66 per $1,000. Levies are operational funds, as opposed to bonds, which are for capital improvements such as the new Kennewick High School.
WHAT ARE THE SPENDING GAPS IN KSD NOW?
The reason for the levy incremental increase is to fill spending gaps, but in the public release, those were not specifically listed. The District would likely use ESSER or COVID relief funds to fill in gaps where needed until the incremental increases take effect (if they indeed do).
More discussion will take place Oct. 27tth.
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