There are few better investments in our community than our children’s education.
We are less than a month away from Centralia citizens having the opportunity to vote on a replacement levy that will help maintain necessary academic and athletic programs for our students.
There is no doubt that times are difficult for many families and neighbors on fixed incomes. The cost at the gas pump, grocery store and everywhere else is high. It feels as if we are falling behind due to unnecessary taxes, fees and cost increases.
I believe the Centralia School Board recognized this reality when it voted unanimously to place a proposal for a two-year levy at an estimated rate of $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The requested amount is lower than the district’s previous two requests of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value and well below the state-allowed $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for a four-year period.
In April 2023, Centralia School District voters failed to pass the $1.50 replacement levy by 73 votes, failing 50.68% to 49.32%.
We now have another opportunity to invest in our students and help create educational and workforce opportunities. I hope you join me in support of the Centralia School District $1.15 replacement levy and vote “yes” for our children.
Our children, our students and their education is a necessary investment we should continue making. Every successful community has the foundation of a quality education. Our schools produce future leaders, business owners, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, engineers and more.
Why is the replacement levy important? Enrichment levies fund important school services and positions such as support staff, counselors, supplies, materials and services that the state only partially funds or doesn’t fund at all. State money for schools provided via the prototypical funding model does not fully cover the actual costs of operating a school district, so these levies bridge the funding gap.
To help our children be successful, the Centralia School District must be able to provide students with quality educational opportunities, and that starts with the passage of our replacement levy. Programs in science, math, engineering, English, history, career and technical education, workforce development, music, art, athletics and extracurricular programs all suffer when levies fail and funding stops.
If you don’t have children, please consider voting “yes” for an educated local workforce. That workforce may be your future nurse, mechanic or maybe even state representative.
If you are a resident of Centralia but your children attend school outside the district, please consider voting “yes” for the district programs and activities that your children and others may use.
If you are a senior, low income or disabled, please consider voting “yes” and exploring a property tax exemption through the Lewis or Thurston county assessor’s offices that will help reduce your property tax burden.
When we invest in our students, the whole community wins. Join me by supporting our local schools and voting “yes” for your school levy.
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State Rep. Peter Abbarno is a Centralia-based attorney who represents the 20th Legislative District in the state Legislature.
