In this upcoming election, voters in Toledo will once again have the opportunity to vote: either for or against a school levy that is being proposed. However you vote, there are some facts that everyone should know that I’d like to share with our community.
How funding works: A lot of people think that the McCleary decision means that all Washington schools are fully funded. That is not true.
Funding is delivered by the state, but the source of that funding comes from local property tax dollars. In wealthy urban areas, that translates into sufficient funding for schools so that no additional levies are necessary. In rural and poorer areas, state funding only provides a fraction of the cost a school district needs to operate. It is up to voters to pass a levy to keep the schools operational, and levies must be re-run every two years to be in compliance with state laws.
If there is no levy, many essential programs will disappear, as state funding alone will not cover those costs. Class sizes will increase to the point where they severely exceed the legal limit, bus transportation will no longer be provided, counseling and life skills (formerly known as special education) services will be cut, the CPA (alternative school) will close, and the district will be unable to pay its insurance costs or utility bills, which are underfunded by the state by over $250,000 combined. Programs such as band, music, advanced placement courses and after-school programs, including sports, will have to disappear as well.
The Toledo School District currently boasts the highest English language arts and the third-highest math scores among all high schools in Lewis County, showcasing an academic excellence we can all be proud of.
Levies are property taxes on homeowners, assessed as a dollar amount per $1,000 of assessed value per month. Toledo’s requested levy amount of $1.34 per $1,000 is in the bottom quartile of schools in Lewis County. Many school districts run combined bonds and levies that demand upwards of $3 or even $4 per $1,000 of assessed value, but Toledo has kept costs lean; the dollar amount will remain below $2 per $1,000 of assessed value even when the bond payment on our high school begins in 2026.
On behalf of the Toledo Lions Club, I encourage all eligible voters in the greater Toledo area to vote in the special election on April 23, 2024, and to make your voice heard. The future of our community, the children within it and the families who live here all rely on our schools, and whether you support or oppose this levy, I encourage you to vote.
Ethan Siegel
President
Toledo Lions Club
