February 2017 Replacement Levy Information – Battle Ground SD – Revised Brochure

The brochure reproduced below is a revised version of the original (see our blog story of Jan 21st) following the Jan 9^th meeting between the district and the Clark County Assessor. In that meeting they discussed two issues:

1) The statement from the district about the millage rate, and,

2) The statement that the new levy was not a tax increase (which it is of $33 million)

In this document we comment about the statements in this “new” and “revised” brochure because they use words carefully to attempt to create an impression that is not necessarily true. Here is the actual document that was mailed to residents: BGPS_2017_LevyMailer_6x10.5_FIN

February 2017 Replacement Levy Information

The Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors recently approved a resolution to put a replacement levy before voters on the Feb. 14, 2017 ballot. This Educational Programs, Maintenance and Operations (M & O) levy is not a new tax. [Comment: It is not a new tax but it is a HUGE increase of $33 million over 4 years] It will replace the school district’s current levy, which provides about 23 percent of the district’s total operating budget and expires at the end of 2017. [What they don’t say is that the Battle Ground School District employees a larger percentage of staff using the levy funds than any district in SWW by a factor of 2-5x]

Get more information at one of three Levy Information Nights

Levy Dollars are the Difference

Levy dollars make up the difference between what the state provides for K-12 education and what it costs to operate schools while providing a quality learning environment. The district’s current maintenance and operations levy expires December 31, 2017.

The levy allows educational programs and facility services to continue at a level that provides an education focused on every child’s emotional and academic well-being and enables students to engage in quality learning environments. [Comment: When you ask them for any evidence or proof of the value of the extra people they will tell you they have none. They “believe” the extra people have value but can’t prove it]

Finances

The below Tax Rate Chart shows the proposed M&O tax rate and levy dollars collected. If approved by voters, the four-year levy will raise: $31,680,000 in 2018, $33,260,000 in 2019, $34,930,000 in 2020, and $36,670,000 in 2021. The tax rate for the levy is projected to stay the same as the 2016 levy rate. [Comment: They use the $3.66 figure they were claiming. The reality is that the current rate is closer to $3.32/$1000. What they don’t say is that the increase from the last year of the old levy (2017) to the first year of the new levy (2018) is over 16% with each remaining year an additional 5%.] While the rate is projected to stay flat, the proposed levy would generate additional total funds for the district each year. [Comment: This is actually incorrect and false. In order for this to be true the value of a property needs to increase at a rate equivalent to the tax increase. The jump from 2017 to 2018 is 16% levy increase and it’s essentially impossible for the property value to increase 16% which means the tax rate goes UP.] The actual impact on property owners will depend on the increase or decrease in assessed value. The total amount of the levy collected cannot increase even if the district’s assessed value increases.

Note: It’s impossible for the rate per $1,000 to be the same for the entire time. The current rate is ~$3.32 not $3.66 so following their logic it would be an increase not remain flat. In addition the 16% increase from 2017 to 2018 will increase the rate as well (but perhaps they are banking on the current $3.32 increasing to $3.66???)

What does the levy provide for students?

Much of what the levy pays for is people. People are key to providing a quality education and getting students the support they need in both academics and social-emotional learning. Battle Ground’s levy helps keep class sizes small [Comment: This is incorrect. Using the class size information from the State Dept of Education you would see that the class sizes are similar across all SWW districts. The number of extra personnel that are actually used to reduce class size is small…and teachers still complain class sizes are too large] by providing an additional 260 teachers and school and district support staff above what the state funds. Teachers lead classes and programs and classified staff provide educational and administrative support in multiple areas, from health services and safety to office staff and maintenance.

Chart Notes:

School Psychologists – Students perform better academically if their social-emotional needs are met

Nurses – The state pays for less than two nurses for 18 schools. Levy funds allow us to keep 12 full-time nurses on staff to provide on-site medical care to students

Security – Many students and parents have said they feel safer knowing security personnel monitor their campus

Teaching assistants – Support students in the classroom, at recess, during lunch, before school and at release time

• Technology Services – BGPS is launching a 1:1 initiative so that every student has equal access to technology

• Maintenance/Grounds/Custodial/Warehouse – With 18 schools in the district, keeping our campuses well maintained and adequately clean is a huge undertaking. Levy funds enable BGPS to hire enough staff to keep up with the constant demand

• Principals & Assistant Principals – The levy provides for assistant principals who help in areas of positive behavior, attendance and staff support

• Other certificated staff – Class size is important to BGPS, and these 92 staff allow the district to have some of the smallest class sizes in the region, providing a more effective, individualized learning environment

• 

Below are just some of the examples of what the levy funds:

About 25 percent of teachers, support and administrative staff

Small class sizes

Art, music, drama

Textbooks and curricula

After-School Activities

School psychologists and counselors

Security and communications

Transportation

Professional Development

Building maintenance

Where are levy dollars spent?

Levy dollars are pooled with state funds to help pay for basic services that provide a quality education. The levy enables the district to keep class sizes small, maintain facilities, supply technology resources to students, and provide for staff that enhance security, learning experiences and after-school activities.

The levy provides basic educational supports that the state does not fund, including textbooks and curricula, professional development, transportation, and building maintenance. It also pays for health services, music and art classes, after-school activities, drug prevention education, instructional technology, building security, education for students with special needs, utilities, and insurance. [Comment: This set of items comprises 10% or less of the levy but is featured as a prominent factor]

Local funding provides the difference between what the state pays for and what it actually costs to operate schools. In Washington, 97 percent of the 295 school districts rely on levy money to provide important student programs and services. [Comment: While this is true ask them how the percent of extra personnel in the BGSD compares to other districts and when you see the numbers ask the BGSD where the evidence of this extra expense show value – they can’t answer]

Election Information
The election will be February 14 with ballots available January 27. Clark County voter registration information is online at https://www.clark.wa.gov/elections/voter-registration. Residents can register to vote online up to 29 days before Election Day or in person up to 8 days before Election Day.

NOTE: Some senior and disabled homeowners may be eligible for a property tax exemption, based on income. Please call the Clark County Assessor’s Office at (360) 397-2391 for details.

District administrators and board members are available to answer questions and share additional details about the replacement levy. To schedule an informative presentation for your community organization or civic club, please call the district office at (360) 885-5300.

Other Comments:

What are the facts?

1) Inflation has been about 1.1% per year for the last 4 years

2) The average wage increase in Clark County last year was 2.3%

3) To maintain the exact same services in place now (including the extra 267 people already on the books) they would only need a 1.5% increase. Lets take a look at a 1.5% and a 3% per year increase and compare that to what they have put on the ballot:

So the real question: What is the district going to do with another $20+ million that isn’t already covered? Add more people? Why do they need 32% MORE money when they already have far more people (on a percentage basis) that any other district in SWW?

The increase is FAR more than what people are earning and taking home. What bills will families stop paying for what clothes or food won’t they buy?

Finally, checking the other districts with levy’s on the ballot in February you see that several are asking for 3% more per year with one at 5%. Looking at the Battle Ground District they BLOW the others away. There decision was based on……how much they thought they could get while pulling the wool over the taxpayers eyes?

Finally…the vote to send this proposal to the voters was NOT unanimous. It was 3-2.

Voting NO and telling the board to come back with a reasonable request is your right.