Just a reminder that your ballots for the Levy need to be mailed by Feb. 14th, which is Tuesday.
Replacement Levy 2012 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q – What is the Replacement Levy?
A – This is a levy that is voted on by the citizens in a school district that allows the district to collect a property tax that provides funding for the public schools.
Q – Is this an additional levy beyond what we are currently paying?
A – No, this is a replacement levy that will take the place of the levy that was approved in 2009. The 2009 levy will expire after 2012.
Q – How will the passage of this levy affect property tax?
A – It is estimated that tax rates will be $2.14-$2.38 per $1000 of assessed value. The 2012 rate is $1.94 per $1000. Please see slides 21-23 for the rates over the previous 20+ years, in the slide presentation at http://www.psd401.net/staticfiles/psd/documents/2012_Replacement_Levy_Presentation.pdf
Q – How much more will this replacement levy cost the average homeowner?
A – The current levy approved by the taxpayers in 2009 will be assessed at $1.94 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2012. A homeowner with a home valued at $300,000 would pay $582 in property taxes to the Peninsula School District. The proposed replacement levy estimates tax rates to be $2.14 in 2013 or about $642 for a $300,000 home. This would be $60 difference annually, or $5 per month.
Q – When will this replacement levy take effect?
A – Voters are being asked to approve a four-year levy which, if passed, will be in effect from 2013-2016.
Q – What do the levy dollars pay for?
A – Many years ago, when the levy system was initiated, the intent was that levy dollars would be used to pay for extras that a community wanted to provide within their school system.
However, over the years, as other funding sources have decreased, levy dollars have become more and more important as support for basic programs and services. In the Peninsula School District, levy dollars now provide over 20% of the operating budget. Current levy dollars pay for:
| · 20% of the cost of classroom teachers · 40% of the cost for custodians, paraeducators and clerical staff · 80% of athletic and co-curricular costs · 100% of the cost of health technicians · 85% of technology staff and equipment · 100% of maintenance projects | · The 4-day, all-day free kindergarten program · 60% of textbooks and instructional materials · Supplemental funding for school security and emergency preparedness |