School Programs and Operations Replacement Levy - February 2012

Central Valley voters will be asked to consider approval of a three-year School Programs and Operations Replacement Levy on the February 14, 2012 ballot. The levy renews and replaces the district's current educational operations levy which expires in December 2012. The School Programs and Operations Levy:

• Maintains quality educational programs - good public schools are essential to maintain a vibrant community. High levels of student achievement across the Central Valley School District are directly tied to levy-funded schools programs which impact every child.
• Provides basic funding - represents more than 22% of the district's annual operating budget
• Not a new tax - replaces the expiring $27.3 million levy with a $27.1 million levy
  

What does the levy pay for?
Essential educational programs and activities not funded by state and federal dollars are maintained through the local levy including:

• Textbooks and teaching materials
• Technology
• Staff positions to maintain class size
• Extra and co-curricular activities such as music, drama, debate and athletics
• Programs for struggling students
• Highly capable (gifted) programs
• Special education
• Transportation
• Utilities and insurance
  

What is the cost to taxpayers?
The levy amount has been set at $27.1 million for 2013, 2014 and 2015. As was the case when voters approved the current levy in 2009, the levy amount protects against the anticipated loss of state matching funds for school levies known as "levy equalization." If approved, the annual levy tax rate is estimated at $4.19 per $1000 of assessed property valuation, an increase of 65 cents per $1,000 above the estimated 2012 levy tax rate. If levy equalization is funded, the estimated tax rate in 2013 would remain unchanged at $3.54 per $1,000.

For more information, contact the Central Valley School District Public Information Office at 228-5405.