The School Board Thursday afternoon decided to ask the voters to approve a levy in an election set for February 9. The levy amounts to a 4-year continuation of the current levy of $6.82 million per year.
The current levy will end at the end of 2010.
The levy would not increase property taxes. In fact, as it stands, the levy for 2011 would actually be less than the current levy by about $50,000 total.
The best estimate is that an owner of a $400,000 home would pay about $557 in 2011. Because of how property taxes are divvied up in Washington state, that amount is likely to drop a bit over the 4 years.
During the School Board meeting Thursday afternoon, Board members discussed potential ways to mitigate what most state leaders believe will be a $2.6 billion budget cut when the legislature convenes in January.
Board President Kris Lytton said "Cuts will have a profound impact" on the Anacortes School District. Board Member Mitch Everton said "We should plan for the worst." New Board member Karl Yost suggested looking to grants to help make up any shortfall caused by state budget cuts.
School District Business and Finance Director Lisa Matthews said "We have no idea what the legislature will do." She said they could even cut payments retroactively to school districts.