During their regular meeting on October 22nd, Snoqualmie Valley School Board members unanimously approved two four-year levy propositions - a General Fund Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Levy and a Technology Levy. Both levies would replace current local funding that expires after 2010. These two propositions will come before the voters during the February 9, 2010 election.
Maintenance and Operations Levy
This M&O Levy would replace the proposition approved by voters in 2006, and renew the levy for the calendar years of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. These local revenues would make up the difference between what the district receives from the State of Washington and the Federal Government and what is required to fund the programs currently offered in our schools. Currently levies are needed to sustain about 18% of the school district's General Operating Fund. Maintenance and Operations Levy dollars provide for educational programs and school operation costs including a significant portion of school support staff, course offerings at Mount Si High School, maintenance and custodial services, and activity programs such as music, drama, debate, and athletics. Levy dollars are also used to help pay for transportation costs, special education, utilities, school security, supplies and materials, some salary enhancements and benefits for staff, textbooks, and professional training and time for our teachers to enhance student learning.
This levy is not a new one, as it would replace the current four-year levy which will expire in 2010. Because the state does not fully fund K-12 education and because our district receives one of the lowest per pupil revenues (290th out of 295 Washington school districts), this levy is necessary to sustain operations and programs commensurate with neighboring districts. The amount of the M&O Levy is determined by a "levy lid" that the state sets for each school district. Snoqualmie Valley's levy lid is 24.83%.
The Maintenance and Operations Levy proposition would ask for a fixed dollar amount to be collected each year between 2011 and 2014. Homeowners in our district are then assessed at a tax rate per $1,000 of their property's assessed valuation. This levy proposition would authorize collections as follows:
| Collection Year | Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Home Value | Levy Amount |
| 2011 | $2.00 | $12,310,000 |
| 2012 | $2.13 | $13,540,000 |
| 2013 | $2.31 | $15,110,000 |
| 2014 | $2.46 | $16,570,000 |
Technology Levy
On February 9th, the district will also place before the voters a request to authorize a four-year Technology Levy, replacing the current Technology Levy that expires in 2010. If approved, approximately 57% of the technology funds would be used to refresh or replace existing "outdated" technology, enhance classroom technologies and improve emergency communications/safety systems, and 43% of the funds would be used for professional development of classroom-centric technologies to maximize student learning and interaction.
Because our state does not include technology in its definition of "basic education," all school technology and the training to use and teach it must come from funds approved by local voters. In comparison with neighboring school districts, the Snoqualmie Valley is behind in terms of our investment in technology for students. Passage of this levy would allow our district to "catch-up" to the mid-range of nearby districts, providing our students equitable learning opportunities to prepare for their future.
Technology has become an integral part of the instructional and administrative operation of the school district. Technology allows teachers to create student learning experiences that utilize a student's higher order thinking skills and capitalizes on children's innate interest in digital technologies. These resources require funding of personnel, equipment, peripherals and professional development to be effective for students and staff.
The proposed Technology Capital Levy would be funded as follows:
| Collection Year | Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Home Value | Levy Amount |
| 2011 | $0.40 | $2,475,000 |
| 2012 | $0.39 | $2,475,000 |
| 2013 | $0.38 | $2,475,000 |
| 2014 | $0.37 | $2,475,000 |
For more information on the Technology Levy check out the Technology Advisory Committee web site at this link: District Technology Advisory Committee.
NO Transportation Levy this time
The District is NOT proposing a Transportation Levy at this time (to purchase school buses). Due to the satisfactory condition of our school buses and slowed enrollment growth curtailing the need to expand the fleet at this time, the District anticipates its current fleet will meet the needs of students for the next few years.
