MEAD, Wash. — The Mead School District is asking for support on a three year replacement levy. The current levy expires at the end of the year.
The proposed levy would run from 2025 to 2027 with an estimated rate of $2.50 per $1,000 dollars of assessed value.
This will be an increase compared to the current levy. But, it’s one that Superintendent Travis Hansons said will allow the district to continue providing what it currently offers students today.
“We want to make sure that we continue to sustain and maintain great school programs and we want to continue to have all the things that this community has enjoyed for year," Hanson said.
Greg Souza has two kids in the Mead School District. He’s supported past levies, but he’s not likely to support this year’s proposal.
“The biggest problem is that it's going to they're going to take Intel," Souza said. "Literally, there's nobody can give anything else. And then Mead is going to have to resource or figure out a new way to continue to get the things that they need to run.”
Looking at first year proposed levy amounts, Mead is asking for the third highest in Spokane County.
Superintendent Hanson said the district did not consider holding off on the levy, adding that levy dollars make up 14% of the district’s overall budget.
"In addition to the percentage, again, so many of our our programs that parents want and need are possible because of levy funds," Hanson said.
The district put up billboards about the levy, including ones that said, “90% of our school safety is levy-funded.”
Here’s the context:
The district said it spent $918,000 on security and safety in 2020-21. 90% of that total ($824,000) was levy-funded, while the remaining 10% was state funded.
“Knowing that our resource deputies are 100%, funded by the levy, we have a great partnership with Spokane County, who provide some funding for those positions, but a good portion of their annual salaries are provided by the school district," Hanson said. "So, I can't imagine a scenario where a failed levy would allow us to keep those positions in place.”
But, security and safety are only 4% of each levy dollar. The biggest piece of the pie is 59% for educational programs and staffing. Athletics is a 16% slice, all of which Hanson said needs local levy support.
"Without local investment, many of those things are not possible," Hanson said.
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