School District Levies On Feb. 14 Ballots

WAITSBURG - Get ready to vote!

Ballots went out last Friday for the Feb. 14 Special Election and local school district officials are hoping residents approve tax dollars to benefit everything from full-day kindergarten to new, safer high school bleachers.

Karen Martin, the Walla Walla County Auditor, said her office is sending out about 20,000 ballots to citizens.

In the Touchet Valley, Walla Walla County residents, depending on which school district they reside in, will be voting on levies in Prescott, Waitsburg and Dixie.

Prescott School District is running a two-year maintenance and operations levy of $585,000 per year, or $2.39 per $1,000 assessed property value.

The Waitsburg School District is running a maintenance and operation levy of $435,000 and $447,000, or $3.62 and $3.72 per $1,000.

The Dixie School District is running its maintenance and operations levy of $230,730 for two years, or $3.48 per $1,000.

Sharon Richter, the Columbia County auditor, said her office sent out about 2,500 ballots last Friday

The Dayton School District has two measures on the ballot.

First, the district is asking for a four-year maintenance and operations levy that would bring in $1.3 million each year and if approved would cost residents $2.33 to $2.26 per $1,000 assessed property value.

In addition to the maintenance and operations levy, the district is asking for a capital levy to fund technology and a set of new bleachers for the high school gym.

If approved, in 2013 the district would collect $255,000 for the bleachers and technology and cost taxpayers 46 cents per $1,000.

In 2014 through 2016, the district would collect $75,000 for technology at a rate of 13 and 14 cents per $1,000.

Richter said she expects about 60 percent of voters who receive ballots to return them for this Special Election.

Columbia County voters can mail in their ballots or put them in drop boxes in the alley on the left side of the courthouse or in one at city hall in Starbuck.

Martin said she expects 40 to 60 percent voter turnout for this election.

Local voters can mail in their ballots or put them in the drop box in front of Waitsburg City Hall.