Vote YES! For the kids

by Liv Stecker

The Northport School District Board of Directors is seeking voter approval for a continuing $300,000 Maintenance and Operations Levy to maintain ongoing operations for the school district at current levels. The levy rate will be around $1.87 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The levy, once approved, will be collected in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

The levy funds will be used to pay for maintenance of the K-12 school buildings and grounds as well as operating costs for the facility that include lighting and heating. Part of the levy budget would include technology improvements, updating and repairing equipment and maintenance school wide. Levy funds would go to offset some of the cost of school athletic programs, to avoid some out of pocket expenses for students.  Music and fine arts programs are also supported by levy funds, keeping our kids in touch with their creative potential offers the lasting benefit of healthy outlets and habits. The levy would cover part of the expense of the swimming lessons provided for K-3rd grade in British Columbia, a program that is vital for the safety of the families living along the river and near many of the local lakes. Necessary equipment for physical education, as well as the expenses of field trips are also supported by levy funds. 

Photo credit: Samantha Cleaver

When and where to vote: 

All voting is done through the mail. Ballots began arriving in mailboxes around January 20th with an election date of February 9th, 2016, by which all ballots MUST be postmarked or dropped off at a location designated within the voting instructions included with your ballot. Drop off locations include the Stevens County Courthouse in Colville, Lake Spokane Elementary School in Nine Mile Falls, Fire District 1 Administration Building in Clayton and the United Church of Christ in Chewelah. 

Levy Equalization:

For every $1.00 we raise locally, the state provides matching funds of approximately $.68. These are levy equalization funds and are designed to help districts with a limited tax base. The state will not give these funds to the local district unless they run and pass a levy. 

Tax Exemptions:

Those who are at least 61 years old and whose household income is less than $35,000 may qualify for an exemption for all or part of this levy. Regardless of age, persons who have a disability which prevents them from employment may also qualify for this exemption. To apply, contact the Stevens County Assessor's Office.

Northport has the lowest levy rate among neighboring districts, Colville and Onion Creek school districts have a levy rate of $2.51, Chewelah: $2.28 and Kettle Falls: $2.26. The rate of $1.87 for Northport is well below average for the area. 

In 2015, Northport Schools received several prestigious academic awards, including     the School of Distinction award, the US News and World Report Silver Medal Award and the  Newsweek “America’s Top High School” Award. The mission statement for Northport school states: “The Northport School District is an innovative school that will inspire lifelong success, empowering students with knowledge, skills and opportunities.”