Griffin School District will submit a ballot proposition to voters at the February 19, 2008 special election asking for approval of for maintenance and operation (M & O) replacement levies.
A forum on this proposal will be held at the school library at 7 PM on Thursday, January 31. The “Yes for the Griffin Kids” committee has asked me to explain school maintenance and operation replacement levies and respond to any questions people may have about property taxes at this forum.
If you are not yet registered to vote at your current address, you must register to vote by January 19, 2008 in order to vote in the February 19th. You can now register to vote online at
https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/onlinevoterregistration/Registration.aspx If you’re not registered to vote, click this link today!
This Griffin School District proposal will consist of a ballot proposition that is submitted to school district voters at the February 19, 2008 special election authorizing Griffin School District to impose the following M & O replacement levies:
- $1,671,300 for collection in 2009; and
- $1,766,900 for collection in 2010.
These are replacement levies replacing voter approved levies for collection in 2007 and 2008. School district M & O levies are authorized if voters approve a ballot proposition providing for the levies by a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote).
School district M & O levies are restricted by several factors. First, state law limits the amount of these levies that any school district may impose. Second, these are excess property tax levies that are only imposed if voters approve a ballot proposition authorizing the levies.
School district M & O levies are approved in dollar amounts, not in tax rates. If assessed values rise in the school district, the tax rate of the school district levy will lowered. If for example, the total assessed value in the school district doubled, the tax rate that is used to levy these taxes would drop by about 50% to generate the authorized amount of taxes.
Click here to visit the web site of the Griffin School District. Once there, find and click the “Levy Information” link to read further details on these levies.
If you have any questions about school district excess levies, please feel free to contact me. I hope to see you at the forum.
— STEVE LUNDIN