Two new flyers issued to help educate others:

From the district – just three things to remember:  Three Things to Remember

Another flyer built from original information in half page format: Basic Information

SCHOOLS: Don’t falter on commitment to future

JON ZURFLUH; Univeristy Place
Last updated: January 17th, 2010 12:30 AM (PST)

It was encouraging to read The News Tribune editorial (1-13) supporting school levies throughout the region. As a graduate, employee and recently returned parent to the University Place School District, I can enthusiastically echo the comments of this paper.

In recent years, I’ve spent time visiting many countries throughout Southeast Asia. It was a pleasure to have an opportunity to return and find the stabilizing force that schools provide to our communities.

I can confirm that schools throughout the region are providing a highly competitive education when compared against lesser alternatives in Third World countries. We have invested in education as a society in America, and we dare not falter on our commitment to future generations.

Whether you have children in school or not, we all have equal responsibility for providing an education to every child in our community. Levies and taxes are the method by which we provide that support.

Do not let the confusion in Olympia distract you from the necessary renewals on the Feb. 9 ballot. These maintenance and operations levies provide essential funding for critical programs that distinguish our education system from countless others throughout the world. We all have a critical responsibility for maintaining our investment in the futures of our children and the prosperity of our communities.

Originally published: January 17th, 2010 12:30 AM (PST)

Evergreen PTSA on Tuesday (January 12) unanimously passed a resolution in support of the UPSD M&O Levy.

Molly Bodhaine
Co-President
Evergreen PTSA

The 28th Legislative District Democratic Organization formally and fully endorses the University Place School District Levy to be presented to the voters on February 9, 2010. We have notified our voting members who reside in the City of University Place and have asked for their vote and financial support. We are also extremely pleased that Washington State House of Representatives Troy Kelly and Tami Green have expressed their full endorsement of this measure.

Don Green, Chair
28th Legislative District Democratic Organization

Just in from Curtis High School and Curtis Junior High:

On Monday, January 11, 2010, the CHS/CJHS PTSA unanimously passed a
resolution in support of the Replacement Maintenance and Operations Levy
for University Place School District on February 9, 2010.  It is the hope
of the PTSA that the community will overwhelmingly support this ballot
measure.

Way to go PTSA!

The Tacoma News Tribune should be applauded for their article this morning that capably explains the importance of the upcoming levy vote.  With this morning’s paper, they have joined forces with Citizens Committees like this one in supporting the passage of this crucial bit of sustaining financial support for schools in dire economic times.  They have accurately portrayed this initiative as essential to long-term recovery and a critical component of protecting our investment in future generations.  They have supported our mantra – quality schools = strong community.

Crucial school levies on the ballot

THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Published: 01/13/10  12:05 am

If you live in the South Sound, chances are there’s a school levy on your ballot Feb. 9. Please don’t overlook it.

These levies – all of which would simply renew property taxes previously approved by voters – make all the difference between healthy school districts and distressed ones.

The Legislature is required by the Washington Constitution to fund “basic education,” but lawmakers’ definition of “basic” has little to do with the common sense definition. Money from the state typically funds about 80 percent of what districts actually do. Without the additional 20-or-so percent provided by levies, they wouldn’t be able to deliver much of what children need.

The failure of a levy (it takes two consecutive rejections to permanently kill one) throws a district into the equivalent of shock. The remaining funding must be devoted to survival-level operations. At direct risk are the extra teachers needed to keep class sizes manageable, school nurses and counselors, bus transportation, special education, athletics and anything else extracurricular, music, art, drama, classroom supplies.

And much else. A district without local levy support may even have to dispense with such niceties as textbooks for individual students.  Losing one dollar out of five would leave almost any organization reeling. But a school system isn’t just any organization; when it reels, the futures of young people reel with it.

These routine operational levies do not fund school construction. That requires a separate ballot measure, and both the Tacoma and Clover Park districts have such capital proposals on the Feb. 9 ballot. We’ll discuss them separately.

Some school districts seek special technology levies that allow them to keep their information systems up to date and provide classrooms with computer equipment. Federal Way is asking its voters for a technology levy, as are the Franklin Pierce and Fife districts. Each of these would continue or reinstate a previously approved tax. For students heading toward a tech-intensive job market, familiarity with computer systems is one of the basics.

The Tacoma School District is asking its citizens to continue its routine – but essential – operational levy. So are the school systems of Puyallup, Bethel, Sumner, University Place, Franklin Pierce, Steilacoom, White River, Fife, Dieringer and Orting.  The devoted citizens campaigning for these measures this year are worried about two things: confusion and complacency.

Confusion may arise from all the talk of raising state taxes in Olympia. This point needs emphasis: The proposed school taxes are not new; they are either continuations or reinstatements of revenue measures already approved. The operational levies would not spike property taxes; they would merely maintain the crucial funding that now exists.

The complacency could result from the fact that levies can now be approved by a simple majority of the vote – 50 percent plus one – rather than the 60 percent of years past. That could lull some into letting their ballots lie under a pile of junk mail until it’s too late. But 50 percent is no slam dunk, as any number of close elections will attest. To kill any one of these crucial levies, all it will take is enough school supporters to assume it will pass without their help – and forget to put their ballots in the mail.

Q. What is Levy equalization?

UPSD should receive $1.38 million in levy equalization funding in 2010. Levy equalization comes from the state to reduce the total tax burden on property owners for school districts that have an average assessed property valuation per pupil that is lower than the statewide average. Implemented in 1989, levy equalization reduces the amount collected in local property taxes under the state mandated levy amount restrictions (lid). If the state eliminates levy equalization (currently being discussed), University Place taxpayers lose this property tax reduction and need to be prepared to assume this burden. The proposed levy rate ensures that we will have the extra funds to carry on regardless of what happens at the state level. The passage of this replacement levy is essential to maintaining the high quality educational system we enjoy here at University Place.  If the state maintains levy equalization, then rates will return to levels more consistent with prior years.  This is shown in the chart below.

Our committee and interested others are set to meet on Tuesday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. We’ll gather at the University Place Presbyterian Church and there will be plenty of opportunity to get information and sign up for areas where you can help.  The campaign is set to jump into high gear.  Your assistance is essential.

Pass the word and invite your neighbors!  All are welcome!

Below, please find the link to the original letter circulated to U. P. Citizens in order to get the initial word out to everyone.  The U.P. District Dialog should be in your mailboxes today and this letter highlights the work in the few weeks ahead.

Click here –> First Letter

Please plan to join us on January 12th, at 7:00 p.m. for a meeting to show support and get additional information from school district representatives, including Superintendent, Patti Banks.  Time is getting short and many activities in the remaining days.

This is a general informational post – we’ll add something new every couple of days – on details relative to the Levy.  Check back often for Q & A updates.

Q: What would the loss of levy equalization (LEA) mean to the University Place School District?

UPSD should receive $1.38 million in levy equalization funding in 2010. Levy equalization comes from the state to reduce the total tax burden on property owners for school districts that have an average assessed property valuation per pupil that is lower than the statewide average.  Implemented in 1989, levy equalization reduces the amount collected in local property taxes. If the state eliminates levy equalization, University Place taxpayers lose this property tax reduction and need to be prepared to assume this burden. The current M & O levy rate ensures that we will have the funds to carry on regardless of what happens at the state level. The passage of this replacement levy is essential to maintaining the high quality educational system we enjoy here at University Place.

Q: Why is there a difference between the estimated rate and the actual rate assessed for levies?

UPSD voters approve a specific collection amount for each year covered on the ballot. The actual rate per thousand of assessed value is dependent on current economic conditions. Assessed value is determined by the Pierce County Assessor who takes into consideration fluctuations in market changes. Each year new houses are added to the district’s assessed properties. For this levy, I have estimated no increase in assessed value for 2010 and 2011, and only a 2% increase in assessed value for 2012, 2013, and 2014, including new homes. I expect the actual rates to follow our trend of the actual amount being lower than the rate on the ballot (see chart below). If LEA remains intact, then the rate will be lower than the ballot reflects.
Please feel free to contact your local legislator about levy equalization.  This topic is scheduled to be discussed with the legislature comes back into session in January and will be part of the state budget debate.