The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—Officials with the Dayton School District are watching the progress of House Bill 1059, and hoping it becomes law. If so, it would extend the safety net for local levy collections by an additional year.

The State Legislature has reduced the amount of money local school districts are allowed to collect from voter approved M&O levies in anticipation of full funding for basic education, as ordered by the State Supreme Court in the McCleary ruling. Because fully funding for basic education is not yet a reality, school districts state-wide are facing what is referred to as a “levy cliff.”

Dayton School District Superintendent Doug Johnson has recently expressed concern about the outcome for the DSD, should HB 1059 not clear the legislative hurdles. Johnson said there would be a reduction in M&O levy collections in 2018, with effects felt in 2019.

“It would not be good,” Johnson said. “If the levy cliff bill does not pass, which compensates for the reduction in local funding, our budget next year would feel an immediate hit. First and foremost would be our current plan to hire a K-12 counselor, something our community truly wants, and our children need. It would be very challenging to keep all we have in place now, and still add the counselor.”

The local voter-approved $1.46 million M&O levy collection in 2018 supports the cost of salaries for teachers and administrators beyond state support, athletics and activities, salaries for support personnel positions beyond state support, food services support, materials and supplies, operating and maintenance, and costs associated with the career and technical education program.

“Our hope is the state either passes 1059 or develops a budget that provides an amount equal to what we are scheduled to lose,” Johnson said. “We are working on budget planning now, and will know more as the (legislative) session unfolds.”

Johnson said flexibility is essential in preparing the budget for 2018.

HB 1059 passed the House chamber on January 23, with 62 yes votes. It has now moved to the Senate, and a public hearing was scheduled for Jan. 30 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Speaking from Olympia, State Legislative District Representative Terry Nealy said, “I voted for HB 1509. Unless we pass some big comprehensive plan for the McCleary issue that would supplant this, the levies can be expanded throughout the rest of the year.”

Sixteenth District Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser, also voted in favor of the bill.