Voters to decide Medical Lake school levies

By Clare McGraw

Cheney Free Press

MEDICAL LAKE – School District Superintendent Kimberly Headrick presented information on the upcoming Feb. 13 levies during a School Board meeting Jan. 16.

“There are two levy measures on Feb. 13,” Headrick emphasized. “One is a three-year replacement levy.”

The replacement levy, passed with a simple majority, aims to provide flexible revenue for after school programs and support beyond what the state provides. Headrick said.

“Our six-year levy is coming to an end, and it’s vital for the repair of the elementary school and upgrades in terms of safety and security,” she said.

During the presentation, Headrick shed light on the funding structure for schools, detailing that 71% comes from the state, 9% from the federal government and 20% from local sources. Federal funding is specifically allocated for Title I and Special Education.

“There are three pots of money that come from local sources,” Headrick said, detailing the distribution as 41% impact aid, 29% levies approved by voters and 30% matching state funds for districts with lower assessed value.

Highlighting the need for levy collection, Headrick emphasized, “They must collect a levy at a rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value,” noting that Medical Lake’s rate is currently $1.24 per $1,000.

If approved, the owner of property assessed at $400,000 would pay $600 in taxes each year of the levy.

The funds collected through levies support educational programs, school support staff, advanced classes, and extracurricular activities like music, art and robotics, she said.

Addressing specific needs, Headrick pointed out the importance of funding for nursing and mental health services.

“Our levy funds pay the other 50%,” she said, highlighting the increasing demand for support from students with various health needs.

The presentation also covered technology needs, such as the renewal of Chromebooks with a lifespan of around five years. Additionally, capital projects and security improvements, including buzz-in systems in every school, were discussed.

Highlighting the financial challenges faced by the district, Headrick mentioned a loss ranging from $60,000 to $100,000. Despite this, Medical Lake is not pursuing refunds for lost income this year, a decision made by the school board.

Property values and school taxes were also discussed, with Headrick noting the decline in the bond and the district’s need to request a total dollar amount.

“Since 2018, we’ve lost approximately $800,000 in the loss of match,” she said.

In a bid to address these challenges, Headrick revealed additional levy requests.

The replacement levy is set at $1.55 per $1,000, and the capital levy at $0.45 per $1,000. For every $100,000 of assessed value, residents can expect an estimated annual increase of $32 or $3 per month.