In the upcoming Feb. 13 Thurston County special election, Yelm Community Schools (YCS) residents will vote to potentially replace the district’s expiring levy.
The Educational Programs and Operations levy, which expires in December of 2024, will continue to fund services and resources that state funding doesn’t fully cover, such as special education, operational costs, staffing, athletics, activities and more.
The YCS school board adopted Resolution 03-23-24 on Nov. 21, 2023, to authorize the replacement levy to continue support for educational programs and operations. The levy is not a new tax, as it was last approved in the 2020 Thurston County special election, with 3,053 (53.3%) Thurston County voters in favor of the levy and 2,675 (46.7%) voters opposed.
State and federal funding covers 86% of the school district’s budget, while the replacement levy funds 13%. The Washington state Legislature set a maximum rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, the same as the previously approved levy. The levy rate may be lower than $2.50 depending on the growth rate of the community and increased property assessed values, but it will not exceed $2.50 over the next four years. The amount is based on assessed property values projected at a 4% growth rate. Over the past five years, the average property value growth rate in Yelm was 14%, according to the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Thurston County assessor.
YCS aims to collect a maximum levy amount of $15.5 million in 2025, $16.15 million in 2026, $16.8 million in 2027 and $17.45 million in 2028 should the proposition be approved on Feb. 13.
Without the replacement of the levy, the district might have to reduce staff and services, such as paraeducators, nurses, counselors, social workers, outreach coordinators, special education supports, technology, campus security, sports, clubs and arts programming, according to the district.
For every dollar that the district collects from the levy, roughly 50 cents will be allocated to teaching and learning; 25 cents will be used for support services; 15 cents will fund operations; and 10 cents will support athletics and activities.
At the Jan. 2, Yelm City Council meeting, YCS Superintendent Chris Woods informed the council of the importance of the replacement levy. He said one key aspect of the levy is the funding for mental health services, a resource that has become increasingly important in recent years.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that, especially since the pandemic, we have seen a tremendous increase and rise in mental health support and the way that we are trying to support our students and our staff. We have many students who are coming each and every day hurting in some way or another,” Woods said to the council. “We are now allocating resources to provide staff there for the students, and not just staff but resources that they can access 24 hours a day so they know where they can go if and when they’re feeling down, depressed or anxious.”
Woods said that the district collected about $2.02 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2023, even though voters approved a maximum of $2.50. In 2024, the district is slated to collect $2.14. Should property values increase, the district cannot collect more money than the amount approved by voters.
“Every district will ask for the maximum amount, $2.50, and then if the Legislature gives us the authority to collect the full amount, then we would. But if we don’t get that authority with the levy, then we are at the mercy of the Legislature, even though it would be great to be able to collect that,” he said.
To learn more about the replacement levy, visit the YCS website’s levy overview page at https://www.ycs.wednet.edu/Page/4637, or call the communications office at 360-458-1900.
