Dear Editor,
On February 9, South Bend School District voters will decide whether or not to pass a four-year replacement levy which funds educational programs and operations for the school. As superintendent of the district, I would like to provide some information about this levy proposal.
At our November school board meeting, the board unanimously approved going to the voters to reauthorize the current school levy that expires at the end of this year. The board's intent and action was to keep the levy rate the same and to not increase the rate. That rate of $3.83 is what the board approved, and it will generate $711,000 per year for 4 years. This amount will not change.
I would like to emphasize that this levy proposal is not a new tax, it replaces the current 4-year levy that voters approved in 2012. Every school district in the county has a school levy in place. If approved, South Bend's replacement levy will be the lowest levy amount of any school district in the area.
Another important piece of information voters should understand is that approving the levy will result in additional state matching funds in the approximate amount of $644,000 each year the levy is in place. The reason the state provides this extra funding is to help those school districts (like South Bend) with lower than average property values. If the district does not have a voter approved levy, the district will not receive this extra funding.
Finally, I want to provide information on what the school levy pays for. Because the state has never fully funded schools, levies have always been needed in order to help provide needed resources. Among other things, the school levy will help pay for curriculum, technology needs, athletics, and building maintenance. Like other schools in Pacific County, our levy is needed to help meet our students' educational needs.
If voters have any questions about the proposed replacement levy, please feel free to call me at the school district office or any one of our school board members.
Respectfully,
Jon Tienhaara
Superintendent
South Bend School District