Carbonado Historical School District

Carbonado Historical School District # 19

Maintenance and Operations Levy Statement For:

The quality of a school district is one of the most important measures of a communities’ overall health. Although the State of Washington funds basic education, the maintenance and operation levy picks up costs that are under funded by the State.

The levy allows our district to fund additional teachers and classified employees to keep our class sizes low. The levy also supports student learning materials, supplies, books, instructional technology materials, computer equipment, music programs, sports, transportation, maintenance and upkeep.

This is not a new tax but replaces the existing maintenance and operations levy that expires in December 2012. This levy is for four years. It is a renewal of what you supported four years ago.

The citizens of Carbonado have a long history of supporting their school and have never defeated a maintenance and operation levy. Supporting this levy will keep our investment working for us.

Sandi Carlson, Kristin Visnaw, and Janet Porter

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

About the Maintenance and Operations Levy

What are the facts about a school levy?

A levy is a property tax on real estate to help finance the educational programs and operations of the public schools. The levy states a specific amount to be collected each year. The levy provides approximately 25% of the total operating budget for the Carbonado School District. The current M&O Levy passed by the Carbonado voters in 2008 will end in 2012. Therefore, voters will be asked to approve a replacement levy on February 14, 2012. Remember, this is not a new tax. It is a continuation of what you have already been generously paying!

Why are levies necessary?

The state currently supplies approximately 75% of the general fund revenues in the Carbonado School District. The M&O Levy provides the remaining 25% for a basic educational program. Such taxes help pay for school maintenance projects, student transportation, co-curricular programs, and mandated programs that are not fully funded by the state (i.e. Special Education).

What is the cost of the levies?

In 2013, the district will collect $522,000 at a tax rate of $5.51 per $1000 assessed value. In 2014, the district will collect $538,000 at a tax rate of $5.52 per $1000 assessed value. In 2015, the district will collect $554,000 at a tax rate of $5.52 per $1000 assessed value. In 2016, the district will collect $571,000 at a tax rate of $5.53 per $1000 assessed value. For example on $100,000 assessed valuation; the tax would be $551 in the year 2013, $552 in the year 2014, $552 in the year 2015, and $553 in 2016.

When is the election?

The election will be Tuesday, February 14, 2012. Mail-in ballots will be sent to the voters prior to the election. Remember, this is not a new tax. It is a continuation of what you have already been generously paying!
Please look on the reverse side of this informational brochure to see how the Carbonado School District has been spending the current levy dollars.

RESOLUTION NO. 02-11

A RESOLUTION of the Board of Directors of Carbonado Historical School District No. 19, Pierce County, Washington, providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the District at a special election to be held therein on February 14, 2012, of a proposition of whether an excess tax of $ 522,000 should be levied in 2012 for collection in 2013, for whether an excess tax of $ 538,000 should be levied in 2013 for collection in 2014, for whether an excess tax of $ 554,000 should be levied in 2014 for collection in 2015, and for whether an excess tax of $ 571,000 should be levied in 2015 for collection in 2016, said excess taxes being for the cost of District's General Fund to pay part of the educational programs and daily operations of the District.

WHEREAS, Carbonado Historical School District No. 19, Pierce County, Washington (the “District”), for the past four years has had in effect a maintenance and operations levy to enable the District to pay for its educational programs and daily operations, including teachers, instructional aides, nurses, librarians and other staff, technology support, athletics, arts, music and safety programs, textbooks and other classroom materials, and maintaining playgrounds, playfields and other facilities; and

WHEREAS, the money in and to be paid into the General Fund of the District, during the 2012 - 2013, 2013 - 2014, 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2016, and 2016 - 2017 school years will be insufficient to enable the District to pay for necessary educational programs and daily operations to meet properly the educational needs of the students attending District schools; and

WHEREAS, to provide for such educational programs and daily operations the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the District deems it necessary to replace the expiring levy with a levy of the following taxes for the District's General Fund upon all of the taxable property within the District in excess of the maximum annual tax levy permitted by law to be levied within the District without a vote of the electors:

A. A tax of approximately $5.51 per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation to provide $ 522,000, said levy to be made in
2012 for collection in 2013; and

B. A tax of approximately $5.52 per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation to provide $ 538,000, said levy to be made
in 2013 for collection in 2014; and

C. A tax of approximately $5.52 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $ 554,000, said levy to be made in 2014 for collection in 2015; and

D. A tax of approximately $5.53 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $ 571,000, said levy to be made in 2015 for collection in 2016; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington require that the question of whether or not such excess taxes may be levied must be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of Carbonado Historical School District No. 19, Pierce County, Washington, as follows:

Section 1. The following taxes for the District's General Fund should be levied upon all of the taxable property within the District in excess of the maximum annual tax levy permitted by law to be levied within the District without a vote of the electors:

• A tax of approximately $ 5.51 per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation to provide $ 522,000, said levy to be made in
2012 for collection in 2013; and

• A tax of approximately $ 5.52 per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation to provide $ 538,000 said levy to be made
in 2013 for collection in 2014; and

• A tax of approximately $5.52 per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation to provide $ 554,000, said levy to be made in
2014 for collection in 2015; and

• A tax of approximately $5.53 per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation to provide $ 571,000, said levy to be made in
2015 for collection in 2016.

The estimated levy rates set forth above are based on current information provided by the Pierce County Assessor's Office. The levy rates shall be adjusted based upon the actual assessed value of property with the District at the time of each levy.

Upon approval by the voters of Proposition No. 1 set forth below, the District may use the proceeds of said levies during the 2012 - 2013, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, and 2016 - 2017 school years by incurring indebtedness by the issuance of short term obligations against the General Fund of the District, as authorized by Chapter 39.50 RCW, and may expend the proceeds of said levies to pay such part of the general expenses of maintenance and operation of the District during such school years as may be authorized or allowed by law for the use of excess levy funds.

Section 2. It is hereby found and declared that the best interest of the District require the submission to the qualified electors of the District of the proposition of whether the District shall levy such excess taxes for their ratification or rejection at a special election to be held therein on February 14, 2012.

The Pierce County Auditor, as supervisor of elections in Pierce County, Washington, is hereby requested to call and conduct said special election to be held within the District on said date and to submit to the qualified electors of the District the proposition hereinafter set forth. The Pierce County Auditor’s Office will be the distributor of the voter’s pamphlet for the said election.

The Secretary of the Board is hereby authorized and directed to certify said proposition to the Pierce County Auditor as supervisor of elections in Pierce County, Washington, in the following form:

SPECIAL ELECTION - PROPOSITION NO. 1

CARBONADO HISTORICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY

The Board of Directors of the Carbonado Historical School District #19 adopted Resolution #02-11 concerning education funding. This proposition will meet the educational needs of students and authorizes the District to levy the following excess taxes, in place of an expiring levy, upon all taxable property within the District to support the District's educational programs and operations, as specified in District Resolution No. 02-11:
Estimated Levy
Rate/$1,000 of Levy
Collection Year Assessed Value Amount
2013 $ 5.51 $ 522,000
2014 $ 5.52 $ 538,000
2015 $ 5.52 $ 554,000
2016 $ 5.53 $ 571,000

Should this proposition be approved?

Yes

The Secretary of the Board of the District is hereby authorized and directed to deliver certified copies of this resolution to the Pierce County Auditor.

ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of Carbonado Historical School District No. 19, Pierce County, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof held the 19th day of September, 2011.
CARBONADO HISTORICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
NO. 19, PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON

_____________________________________

ATTEST: _______________________
Secretary, Board of Directors