Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

12/21/05

NEWS RELEASE
Auburn School District Puts Replacement
Levy on February 7 Ballot

Auburn School District has placed an educational program and operations replacement levy on the Tuesday, February 7, 2006, ballot for local voters’ approval. The educational program and operations replacement levy will provide approximately 18% of the district’s programs and services.

An educational program and operations replacement levy requires local voter approval to continue the current education programs and services provided to students. Levies are not cumulative and must be renewed every two years to replace retiring levies.

If approved, the educational program and operations levy will maintain the same total Auburn school tax rate. This total tax rate, which includes previously approved school construction bonds and a technology levy, will remain constant at $5.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2007 and 2008.

A levy provides funds to the district for day-to-day school programs and operations. It bridges the gap between state funding and the cost of current programs and funds teachers, classroom materials, transportation, maintenance and custodial services and extracurricular activities. The educational program and operations levy funds 18% of the district’s operating budget - the remainder of the district’s budget comes from state funding (69 percent), federal funding (eight percent), and other sources (five percent).

The state formula for funding basic education does not pay for the current levels of staffing and services provided by Auburn School District and other school districts. To fund the difference, districts must submit levies to voters to maintain appropriate levels of staffing and services. Underfunded programs include: instructional programs; education of students with disabilities; gifted education; maintenance and custodial services; and transportation operations. Programs that are not funded at all by the state and are totally dependent on levy dollars are all Auburn School District athletics such as fastpitch, track, and basketball and activities such as debate, band, and orchestra.

Levy propositions require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

For more information, contact Superintendent Linda Cowan at (253) 931-4914