At the December 14, 2009 board meeting, the Othello School District Board of Directors adopted a resolution to submit a replacement maintenance and operations levy to the voters of Othello on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The Board of Directors set the levy amount at $2,350,000 with an estimated dollar rate of tax levy being $2.62 per $1,000 of assessed property value to be collected commencing in 2010 for collection in 2011. For collection in 2012, the estimated dollar rate of tax levy is $2.62 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which will generate $2,400,000.

This levy will replace the levy passed by voters in February 2008, which set the estimated dollar rate of tax levy at $2.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value for 2009 and $2.59 per $1,000 of assessed property value for 2010. The old levy amount will no longer be collected.

A maintenance and operations is a special property tax that allows local citizens a way to fund school programs not funded by state or federal dollars. This additional revenue funds the following programs: technology replacement, costs associated with maintenance of facilities and grounds, extra-curricular activities (music, athletics, coaches/advisor salaries, equipment, official costs, etc.), transportation costs in excess of state funding, bus purchases, textbook adoptions, certificated and classified substitute costs, gifted program, Camp Wooten, and Community Schools.

Communities that pass levies are eligible for levy equalization funds from the state. As we were successful in 2008, we have received an additional $2,000,000 plus per year from levy equalization funds. The levy and levy equalization funds total approximately thirteen percent of the total Othello School District budget. Without local and levy equalization funds, the Othello School District would not be able to maintain the quality of programs that are currently offered.