Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Current levy expires at end of year
In June, Southside School seventh-graders were celebrated at a promotion ceremony. The Southside district is running a levy in the upcoming election.
If Southside School District's replacement levy on the Nov. 8 general election ballot fails, the 120-year-old school district might be absorbed into the Shelton School District.
The district, which has about 200 students in kindergarten through seventh grade, is asking for the replacement of an expiring Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy that would collect $1.97 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2023 through 2026. That levy would collect $641,803 in 2023, $673,894 in 2024, $707,588 in 2025 and $742,968 in 2026.
The levy needs a simple majority to pass. In the April 26 special election, the district's EP&O replacement levy garnered 44.67%.
"We get it," Superintendent Paul Wieneke told the Journal. "These are difficult times for all families, especially given current inflation. But Southside is our community school and has been here for 120 years. We are hoping taxpayers realize that the ballot proposal maintains the current tax, which is much lower than if Southside were to belong to the Shelton School District."
The district reports the current levy represents 17% of the operating budget for the 2021-22 school year, and it will expire at the end of the year if it is not renewed on the Nov. 8 ballot. If the levy fails, the district will have no local taxes by the end of 2023, and 17% of the school's educational programs, operations and staffing would be eliminated.
Wieneke said with those cuts, "Southside would face low fund balance reserves, which would trigger a compliance audit with the state, and/or Southside may be forced to dissolve its independence, which means higher taxes if assigned to the Shelton School District."
Southside's local EP&O levy pays for utilities, textbooks, equipment, transportation, emergency preparedness, and educational support and office staff. It also pays for the basic operations of school buildings and grounds, and the maintenance of heating, ventilation, plumbing, lighting and electrical services.
Seniors and residents with disabilities might be eligible for an exemption from all or part of special levies. For more information, contact the Mason County Assessor's Office at 360-427-9670, ext. 491, or from Belfair, 320-275-4467.
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