Capital Improvements and Safety Levy
Last February, we were very appreciative of the Mattawa community passing a 2-year Replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy that covers support staff salaries, after-school programs, sports, technology, and other educational operations expenditures.
In February of this year, the school district is placing a three-year Capital Improvements and Safety Levy on the ballot.
The 3-year levy will support the district’s need for the following.
Replacement of roofs at both Mattawa Elementary and Saddle Mountain Elementary schools
Replacement of the HVAC system at Saddle Mountain Elementary school
Modernization of Mattawa Elementary and Wahluke Junior High schools’ fire alarm systems
Modernization and improvements for the Wahluke Junior and High School CTE shop
Replacement of three sports scoreboards
Replacement of a number of our district’s aged interior cameras
Modernization of the district-wide security alarm system
Provide additional classrooms
Several other maintenance and operation projects and equipment replacement
Many of the items are replacements of 30-year-old products or work. They have all been well maintained but have exceeded their expected lifespan, and we need to reinvest back into our valued assets. The district’s dramatic growth in the past twenty-five years has consumed resources that are usually allocated for building maintenance and updates. Those lesser priorities have now become necessities.
The levy rate per $1,000 assessed value for this three-year levy would be $1.90 per thousand in 2022, $1.86 per thousand in 2023, and $1.82 per thousand in 2024. Those estimates calculate out to $1.5 Million in each of the three years, totaling a $4.5 million proposition.
In the following weeks, we will be sharing stories and further details on these projects and needs.
For further information on the Capital Improvements and Safety Levy, please visit our website at wahluke.net/cis-levy.
Please remember to vote on February 9th.
*A levy is a short-term, local property tax passed by the voters of a school district that generates revenue for the district to fund programs and services that the state does not fund or fully fund as part of “basic education.” Levies require a simple majority to pass (50% + 1)
Tax Collection Year | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
Taxed Value | $1.90/$1,000 Assessed Value | $1.86/$1,000 Assessed Value | $1.82/$1,000 Assessed Value |
Estimated Total Collection | $1,500,000.00 | $1,500,000.00 | $1,500,000.00 |
Project/Equipment Schedule
Project | MES Roof Replacement | SME Roof Replacement | SME HVAC Replacement | MES Fire Alarm Modernization | WJH Fire Alarm Modernization | WJH, SME, MES Scoreboard Replacement | HVAC Controls | Security Camera Modernization | WHS Parking Lot Resurfacing | Irrigation System Upgrade | SME Hallway Carpet Replacement | District-wide Rekeying | Portable Classroom HVAC Controls Replacement | District-wide Security System Modernization | Surplus and Storage Building Construction | WHS Portable Classrooms (3x2) | Mower Replacements (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Estimated Cost | $325,000.00 | $400,000.00 | $1,500,000.00 | $61,500.00 | $70,000.00 | $32,000.00 | $230,000.00 | $400,000.00 | $90,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $30,000.00 | $25,000.00 | $55,000.00 | $60,000.00 | $60,000.00 | $800,000.00 | $12,500.00 |
Timeframe | Summer 2021 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2021 | Fall 2022 | Summer 2021 | Fall 2021 | Spring 2022 | Fall 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2021 | Fall 2021 | Fall 2021 | Summer 2022 | Summer 2021 | Summer 2021 |
KEY: PRE (Mattawa Preschool), MES (Mattawa Elementary School), SME (Saddle Mountain Elementary School), MSE (Morris Schott Elementary School), WJH (Wahluke Junior High), WHS (Wahluke High School), SNT (Sentinel Tech Alternative School)