[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
WE WILL CALL THIS OCTOBER 28TH, 2024, SPECIAL WORK SESSION TO ORDER.[2. Levy Discussion]
ON OUR EP&O LEVY, JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE EP&O STANDS FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS, AND IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR FUNDING AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERY TWO, 3 OR 4 YEARS, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG WE CHOOSE TO RUN A LEVY FOR.SO AGAIN, I'LL START WITH SOME BASIC BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
AND THEN FROM THERE WE HAVE SOME IDEAS IN TERMS OF A RECOMMENDATION.
WE WILL NOT BE ASKING THE BOARD TO VOTE ON ANYTHING TODAY.
OUR PROPOSAL IS, IS THAT WE PRESENT THIS INFORMATION AND GIVE YOU TIME TO DIGEST IT TO ON YOUR OWN, ASK ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS OR THE NEED FOR FOLLOW UP INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE.
AND THEN WE WOULD BE COMING TO THE BOARD IN OUR LAST MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
I BELIEVE IT'S NOVEMBER 25TH, WOULD BE WHEN WE CAME TO THE BOARD FOR AN ACTUAL VOTE ON A POTENTIAL RESOLUTION FOR US TO RUN AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY.
MY HOPE IS THAT THIS PRESENTATION WILL LAST BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MINUTES, AND THEN WE COULD SPEND THE LAST 20 MINUTES WITH QUESTIONS FOR FROM YOU AND OR ANY DISCUSSION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
ALSO, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT AT ANY TIME DURING THE PRESENTATION, AS WE GO THROUGH THE SLIDES, FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT AND ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AS WE GO.
NO NEED FOR YOU TO HOLD ON TO QUESTIONS TO THE END.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT COULD BETTER BE EXPLAINED IN THE MOMENT, AND IT WOULD HELP YOU WITH YOUR OVERALL UNDERSTANDING, THE SLIDES THAT WE WILL GO OVER ARE ON YOUR ARE AS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE CONTENT, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO EITHER STARE AT ME AS WE GO THROUGH THESE, OR YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG AT YOUR OWN COMPUTER.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, LET'S GET STARTED.
SO FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EP&O LEVIES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, EP&O STANDS FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT IS AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
OVER 97% OF ALL DISTRICTS HAVE EP&O LEVIES, AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE EP&O LEVIES ARE OFTEN VERY, VERY SMALL.
DISTRICTS. DISTRICTS WITH 30 STUDENTS, 35 STUDENTS, 42 STUDENTS OR ACTUALLY THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS THAT ARE PART OF NATIVE AMERICAN LANDS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND OPERATION LEVIES BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE TRIBES IN THIS CASE.
SO OUT OF 296 DISTRICTS, 200, AND I THINK 97% TRANSLATES TO 287 DISTRICTS HAVE EP&O LEVIES.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT TO BE PERCEIVED AS A WANT. IT SHOULD BE PERCEIVED AS A NEED, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT NEED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
EP&O LEVIES CAN BE RUN FOR EITHER TWO, THREE, OR FOUR YEARS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY A DISTRICT MIGHT CHOOSE TO RUN A LEVY FOR A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT MOST DISTRICTS CHOOSE TO RUN IT EVERY FOUR YEARS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO DO SOME PLANNING IN TERMS OF YOUR BUDGETING, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE SUCCEEDING FOUR YEARS, AND THEREFORE YOU CAN PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
IT'S DIFFICULT IF YOU'RE RUNNING A LEVY EVERY TWO YEARS, BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY LONG TERM COMMITMENTS TO USE THAT MONEY, AND IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE SYSTEM.
SO FOUR YEARS HAS BEEN TYPICALLY THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS CHOOSING TO RUN OUR LEVIES FOR IT IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
SO WHILE WE KNOW THAT BONDS CAN REQUIRE A 60% SUPERMAJORITY.
[00:05:06]
LEVIES REQUIRE JUST 50% PLUS ONE MAJORITY IN ORDER TO PASS.A CAPITAL LEVY IS SPECIFIC TO REPAIRS ON BUILDINGS OR PURCHASING OF EQUIPMENT, AND EP&O LEVY HAS A LITTLE GREATER LEEWAY IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU CAN USE IT FOR AND HOW YOU CAN SPEND THAT MONEY, AND IT'S MORE SO A RANGE TO YOUR TYPICAL OPERATIONAL COSTS AS A DISTRICT. THERE ARE NO VOTER TURNOUT.
DO YOU REMEMBER? I DON'T REMEMBER.
I DON'T REMEMBER. BUT FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU PASS A BOND, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERCENTAGE OF THE OF THE TURNOUT FROM THE PREVIOUS ELECTION WITH A, WITH A EP&O LEVY THAT IS NOT THERE.
AND THAT'S A PROCESS THAT GOES THROUGH THE COUNTY AUDITORS PROGRAM.
AND THEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BGPS HAS HAD CONSISTENT LEVY FUNDING SINCE 2007.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE HAVE OPERATED WITH A LEVY IN PLACE SINCE 2007.
IN 2005, 2006, WE DID SUFFER A DOUBLE LEVY FAILURE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE HAD TO GO WITHOUT A LEVY FOR TYPICALLY ONE YEAR UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO RUN IT AGAIN.
OUR LEVY WILL ACTUALLY END ON OUR CURRENT LEVY WILL ACTUALLY END DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. OKAY, SO OUR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS YOU WANT TO RUN THE LEVY OBVIOUSLY BEFORE THEN THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME TIMING ISSUES INVOLVED.
YOU WANT TO RUN OUR PROPOSAL IS TO RUN THIS LEVY IN FEBRUARY.
YOU CAN RUN A LEVY IF IT FAILS ONCE, YOU CAN RUN IT AGAIN.
SO THAT GIVES YOU ROOM IN WHICH TO PLAN TO RUN IT AGAIN.
BUT I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON WHY YOU WANT TO RUN IT EARLY IN THE YEAR IS BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING OF PROGRAMS. AND AS YOU'RE PREPARING YOUR BUDGET, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THOSE DECISIONS TYPICALLY HAVE TO BE MADE BY MAY 15TH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THEREFORE, FOR INSTANCE, IF WE WERE TO RUN A, WE WEREN'T GOING TO RUN A LEVY UNTIL SAY, AUGUST OR NOVEMBER BECAUSE YOU CAN RUN A LEVY FOR THERE'S FOUR OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE IS IN NOVEMBER, AND ONE IS IN AUGUST, AND ONE IS IN NOVEMBER.
BUT IF YOU WAIT UNTIL AUGUST OR NOVEMBER TO RUN THE LEVY FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEN IN MAY, YOU'D HAVE TO PRESUME THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO PASS IT, AND YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE A WHOLE SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF CUTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE PUT OFF IF YOU WERE TO PASS THE LEVY EARLIER.
SO THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT JUST THE BASICS OF A LEVY? GOOD. WITH THAT LET ME FIND THE CLICKER WHICH I PUT IN THE POCKET.
WHAT DOES A LEVY PAY FOR? A LEVY PAYS FOR LOTS OF THINGS.
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO TELL US EXACTLY WHAT A LEVY PAYS FOR.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT BECAUSE WHAT IT WHAT YOU WILL FIND IS THAT WHAT AN EPO LEVY DOES IS IT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US AND WHAT OUR ACTUAL COSTS ARE.
SO IT DOESN'T PAY FOR, IT PAYS FOR VERY FEW THINGS IN THEIR ENTIRETY.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT FILLS A WHOLE BUNCH OF GAPS.
AND WHERE ARE THOSE GAPS? WELL, THOSE GAPS ARE IN THESE AREAS.
THERE ARE GAPS IN STUDENT SAFETY.
SO I'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
STUDENT SAFETY FOR INSTANCE IN BATTLE GROUND WE HAVE TWO SRO OFFICERS.
WE RECEIVE ZERO FUNDING FROM THE STATE OR FROM THE FEDS TO EMPLOY THOSE TWO OFFICERS.
[00:10:01]
THOSE TWO OFFICERS SALARIES, WHAT? OUR PORTION OF THOSE SALARIES ARE FUNDED ENTIRELY OUT OF OUR SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS.WELL, WE HAVE OVER 18 SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND THE SAME CAN BE TRUE FOR A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
FOR INSTANCE, CURRICULUM, THE COVER CURRICULUM.
BUT YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE PURCHASING A CURRICULUM, A COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM, FOR INSTANCE A K-8 MATH CURRICULUM OR A K-8 ELA ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM.
IT WOULD COST US BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, 400 TO $700,000.
THE STATE FUNDING MODEL HASN'T KEPT UP WITH THOSE COSTS.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, NOW, AS YOU'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS, IF WE'RE GOING TO PURCHASE AN ELA CURRICULUM, IT'S OVER A MILLION, SOMETIMES EVEN CLOSE TO $2 MILLION. SO AGAIN, WHILE THE STATE PROVIDES US FUNDING FOR THIS, THE COSTS ARE OFTEN MORE THAN THE STATE GIVES.
SO THE LEVY MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE.
THE STATE GIVES US A SMALL AMOUNT FOR NURSES IN THE DISTRICT.
I THINK A DISTRICT OUR SIZE WE GET LIKE, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL NURSES, BUT WE HAVE RNS IN WE HAVE EIGHT RNS AND WE HAVE LPNS AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE EXTRAVAGANT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAWS ASSOCIATED WITH WHEN A NURSE IS NEEDED AND WHEN A NURSE IS REQUIRED, WE JUST HAVE THAT NEED THAT MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE AS WELL.
THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.
AS YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW, THE STATE FUNDING PRIORITIES THROUGH WSSDA OR THROUGH AWSP OR FOR WASA HAVE ALL TARGETED SPECIAL ED AS NEEDED, INCREASED FUNDING.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE BUDGETED THAT WE WILL HAVE A $6 MILLION SHORTFALL JUST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SO THEREFORE WE'RE GOING TO CUT THOSE SERVICES.
THESE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LAW AND ARE DICTATED IN STUDENTS INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SO WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
BUT AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE A $6 MILLION SHORTFALL.
AND THAT SHORTFALL IS PICKED UP BY OUR EP&O LEVY WHICH ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE IN THOSE AREAS.
BUSSING OR TRANSPORTATION, IT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION SHORTFALL.
WE RUN ABOUT A $1.5 MILLION SHORTFALL.
I THINK IT WAS 1.5, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S OVER $1 MILLION SHORTFALL IN SPORTS.
WE'LL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
WE'LL SHOW IT TO YOU EXACTLY IN AN UPCOMING SLIDE.
AND SO THE SAME THING IS TRUE.
SO A LEVY AGAIN, I THINK THE CRITICAL THING FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND IS THE LEVY PAYS FOR A LOT OF THINGS, AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT IT PAYS FOR ARE NOT UNIQUE. IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE ARE JUST SAYING, HEY, WE'D LIKE TO ADD THOSE THINGS, BUT IT'S BECAUSE THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE PROVIDED, THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT'S PROVIDED, AND THAT'S WHERE THE LEVY COMES IN AND MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE.
DENNY, WOULD YOU SAY THE LEVY COVERS MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF OUR UNFUNDED MANDATES? I DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, OUR UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE COVERED BY THIS.
AND WE ALL KNOW, HAVING DONE THIS FOR A WHILE, THAT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE.
DOES IT COVER ALL OF THEM? YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE ARE STILL FORCED TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT CHOICES.
YEAH. AND WE BALANCE THAT WITH WITH HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS CAN SUPPORT WHAT WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD WHAT IS PRACTICAL FOR US.
SO, YEAH, IF THE IF THE WORLD WERE MY OYSTER, WOULD I SAY THAT WE COULD USE MORE?
[00:15:02]
CERTAINLY. SO IS THERE IS THERE LIMITS TO WHAT WE CAN ASK IN ONE OF THESE LETTERS? THERE ARE. YOU CAN ASK UP TO $2.50.AND WE'RE GOING TO WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
WELL, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE LEVY WILL COVER THIS TIME BECAUSE WE LOST OUR TITLE ONE FUNDING UNLESS WE GOT IT BACK WILL THE LEVY NEED TO PICK SOME OF THAT UP? YES, YES, THE LEVY WOULD ENABLE THE LEVY.
LEVY WOULD ENABLE US TO DO THAT.
AND YOU WILL SEE MARY, WHICH IS A GOOD POINT WHEN WHEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES OF OUR LEVY, YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE THAT THE LEVIES, THE MONIES THAT WE'VE TRIED TO PULL IN THROUGH OPERATIONAL LEVIES, THERE'S A THERE'S A GROWTH TO THAT AND THE GROWTH MIMICS INFLATION.
AND THEN THEY KIND OF LEVELED OUT.
AND TO YOUR POINT, WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS A LEVELING OUT AND WHY THE GROWTH NOW LOOKS SIGNIFICANT, IS THAT'S BECAUSE OF ALL THE ESSER MONIES AND STATE FUNDING MONIES THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH COVID.
SO WE OFFSET THE NEED TO GROW OUR OPERATIONAL LEVY BECAUSE WE TOOK IN THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WHICH AMOUNTED TO OVER $40 MILLION. NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT THOSE MONIES HAVE GONE AWAY.
LAST YEAR, WE MADE $6.2 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS BECAUSE OF THE MONIES THAT WE LOST.
AND SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WERE ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF THAT.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO CONSIDER REPLACING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF LOSING THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE UNABLE TO MAKE THOSE UP BECAUSE COVID AND THE RELIEF MONIES HAVE ENDED IN THAT STAGE.
SO HERE'S TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE PERCENTAGES AND THE ACTUAL DOLLAR FIGURES OF OUR LEVY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IN 2022, OUR LEVY BROUGHT IN $26.75 MILLION IN 2023, 28.2, IN 2024, 29.65 AND IN 2025, 31.1 MILLION.
IT REPRESENTS 13% OF OUR BUDGET, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, THE IDEA OF NOT PASSING A LEVY AND HAVING TO CUT $31 MILLION OR EVEN MORE IS WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL TASK AND WOULD DEVASTATE THE DISTRICT IN MANY WAYS WITH THE AMOUNT OF PROGRAMS THAT, WE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOSE. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT WHERE BATTLE GROUND STANDS IN RELATION TO OTHER DISTRICTS. I KNOW I'VE SHOWED YOU THIS SLIDE BEFORE, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
THESE ARE ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS AND WHAT THEY CHARGE, WHAT THEY COLLECT FROM THE TAXPAYERS.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY AT THE TOP HERE, THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT COLLECTING $3.57 PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE. AND THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WE ALL KNOW, HAS MADE $60 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
CAMAS IS HAD TO USE THEIR FUND BALANCE SIGNIFICANTLY.
YOU FIXED IT FOR ME? CAMAS HAS HAD TO USE THEIR FUND BALANCE SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THEY COLLECT $3.36 AND SO FORTH.
WOODLAND. IT'S IMPORTANT I PUT THE AMOUNTS IN THAT ARE GOING INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
SO WOODLAND, WHILE THEY DON'T HAVE A CURRENT LEVY BECAUSE THEY SUFFERED FROM A DOUBLE LEVY FAILURE AND HAD TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS, THEY DID PASS A LEVY, WHICH GOES INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY, AND IT'S FOR $2.20, SO THEIR TOTAL WILL BE $3.35 STARTING IN JANUARY.
[00:20:01]
I DID THE SAME FOR OURS.BUT YOU CAN SEE WITH ALL THESE DISTRICTS, THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT IS BELOW US IS GREEN MOUNTAIN.
AND GREEN MOUNTAIN IS A K-8 DISTRICT.
IT'S NOT A COMPREHENSIVE K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S A K-8 SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT REPRESENTS A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO CONVEY TO OUR TAXPAYERS THAT THE VALUE THAT WE ARE OFFERING OUR COMMUNITY IN COMPARISON TO MANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALL THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON, IS SIGNIFICANT.
AGAIN, I THINK, TED, IT WAS YOU WHO MADE THE COMMENT IN OUR BOARD WORK SESSION THAT WE DID AS PART OF OUR BOARD RETREAT WHEN I BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION UP THAT EVEN IF WE WERE TO RAISE OUR LEVY, IT'S $2.13.
EVEN IF WE WERE TO RAISE OUR LEVY BY $0.40 OVER ITS CURRENT RATE OF $1.65, IT WOULD STILL BE EQUIVALENT TO THE NEXT CLOSEST TO US, WHICH IS RIDGEFIELD.
WE WOULD STILL BE STILL RIGHT HERE AT THE BOTTOM COMPARED TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
HERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC AMOUNTS.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE GAPS WE.
EVEN THOUGH OUR LEVY COLLECTS $31 MILLION, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE PUT A TOTAL OF $40.8 MILLION.
AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS THERE.
WHILE WE ARE COLLECTING $31 MILLION, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE USING FUND BALANCE TO PAY FOR THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE COLLECT AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED.
THE BOARD APPROVED FOR US TO TAKE OUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED AT 6%, DOWN TO 5%.
BUT IT'S IT'S OTHER FUNDS THAT WE ARE USING.
SO OUR TOTAL, OUR TOTAL USE OF MONEY BEYOND WHAT THE STATE GIVES US IS CLOSER TO $41 MILLION THAN IT IS TO $31 MILLION THAT WE COLLECT, AND THIS IS WHERE IT COMES FROM IN BASIC EDUCATION.
13.5 MILLION TO MAKE UP THE GAP IN SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE 6.3 MILLION.
AND I WON'T READ THROUGH THE REST.
THERE'S THAT ATHLETIC NUMBER THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I SAID 1.5, IT'S ACTUALLY 1.6.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
TRANSPORTATION CLOSE TO $1 MILLION.
OPERATING MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS 3.9 MILLION.
THERE'S THE SPECIAL ED $6 MILLION SHORTFALL.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE LEVY PAYS FOR.
IS IT CLEAN? NO, BUT THAT'S THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON.
HERE'S THE GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF RISING COSTS.
THE STATE HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH US, HAS INCREASED OUR COSTS BY 18.5% OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
BUT HERE'S SOME EXAMPLES AND SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE WE'VE SEEN EXCESSIVE COST INCREASES.
UTILITIES HAVE INCREASED 60% FOR THE DISTRICT.
CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES HAVE INCREASED 68%.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN MANY CASES THEY'VE DOUBLED.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.
WE ARE HOPEFUL, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WITH THE FUNDING THAT COMES THROUGH AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL THAT WE WILL SEE INCREASES, BUT WE CAN'T COUNT ON THAT.
AND THAT'S THE CONUNDRUM THAT WE ARE IN AS A DISTRICT.
[00:25:02]
WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD THAT IS BASED OFF OF OUR NEEDS TO KEEP A BALANCED BUDGET.OUR PROJECTIONS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, NOT THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, UP TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE SO THAT WE CAN COLLECT ENOUGH MONEY NOT TO GROW OUR PROGRAMS, BUT TO KEEP OUR PROGRAMS AT THE SAME LEVELS THAT THEY ARE AND MEET THE COSTS WITHOUT CUTTING INTO USING FUND BALANCE EVERY SINGLE YEAR OR NOT, NOT ADOPTING NEW CURRICULUM OR CUTTING PROGRAMS OR CUTTING INDIVIDUALS THAT WE FEEL WE NEED.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE CAME UP WITH.
WE SETTLED ON AND THIS WOULD BE WHAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST THAT WE WOULD GO FOR.
OBVIOUSLY THE BOARD COULD DETERMINE THAT WE LOOK AT OTHER AMOUNTS, BUT WE ARE SAYING THAT IF WE WERE TO GO AND TRY TO RUN A LEVY AT THE DOLLAR 95 RATE, WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND PROGRAMS. WE CAN REPLACE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CUT WITH THE $6.2 MILLION CUT.
AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE THAT PUTS US IN THE RIGHT PLACE MOVING FORWARD.
AND IF WE RAN IT AT $1.95, WE WOULD COLLECT 38.3 MILLION, 40.41, 42.63 AND 4.98.
AND LET ME POINT OUT THE REASONS HERE.
THE REASONS THAT THESE NUMBERS REMAIN THE SAME, BUT THIS NUMBER GROWS IS BECAUSE OF JUST THE EVALUATION THE DISTRICTS ASSESSED VALUE CONTINUES TO GROW, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF HOUSES AND PROPERTIES CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
AND THIS IS AT A MODERATE RATE OF ABOUT 3.5% A YEAR FOR EXISTING HOMES.
SO THIS IS BASED OFF OF 5.5% GROWTH YEARLY.
SO, HERE'S TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE HISTORICAL LEVY RATES FOR BATTLE GROUND OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE AT ONE POINT, LEVIES WERE AS HIGH AS $4.13.
THAT WAS THE YEAR OF THE MCCLEARY DECISION WHERE THEY SAID, OH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE LEVIES AWAY, AND THEY JUST INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT THEY COLLECTED FROM INDIVIDUALS. SO THEY MADE OUR LEVY RATE $1.50 WAS THE MAX WE COULD ASK FOR AND THEN THEY DECIDED A YEAR LATER THAT, OOPS, THAT'S NOT DOING IT.
SO THEY RAISED IT BACK UP TO $2.50.
THIS IS THE LEVY THAT WE PASSED, THE LAST LEVY THAT WE PASSED WHEN WE PASSED THE LAST LEVY, WHICH WE PASSED AT ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS A 53% OR A 54% PASSAGE RATE, WE PASSED IT AT $1.99, THAT'S $1.99 RATE. WHEN IT WENT INTO EFFECT, IT WENT INTO EFFECT AT $1.96 BECAUSE AGAIN, ASSESSED VALUES CAME IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AND THEN WHILE WE PASSED IT AT $1.95, WE A $1.99.
IT'S GONE DOWN BECAUSE OUR ASSESSED VALUE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THOSE YEARS.
CAN YOU GO BACK A SLIDE? YEAH. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT THE ESTIMATED TAX RATE, THE $1.95, IS JUST AN ESTIMATE.
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT WE CAN COLLECT EACH YEAR IS THE 38.3, THE 40.4140.
SO AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE INTO THE DISTRICT, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THOSE ESTIMATED TAX RATES GO DOWN.
OR PROPERTY VALUES OR PROPERTY VALUES GO UP.
THIS IS BASED OFF OF A, I'LL GO BACK TO THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU.
I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS THAT, BUT I DON'T HAVE IT THERE.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WE'RE ESTIMATING A 5.5 AV GROWTH.
IF YOU SEE HERE, HERE'S OUR AV GROWTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
12.27, 8.94, 15.02, 11.48, 15.89, 6.68, 8.07.
[00:30:08]
SO, JACKIE, TO YOUR POINT, TO YOUR POINT WE ARE ESTIMATING AT A 5.5, 5.5, AS YOU CAN SEE HISTORICALLY IS EXTREMELY LOW.WHICH IS WHAT IT'S DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WHICH IT'S DONE OVER THE LAST.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE WITH THE 5.5.
SO TO BE HONEST WITH OUR TAXPAYERS.
WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE'RE THE VOTE IS FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT, RIGHT? NOT FOR THE RATE.
SO IF COLLECTING IF WE IF THE ASSESSED VALUE WENT DOWN TO $1.75, BUT WE STILL COLLECTED THAT 40 MILLION, THEN IT WOULD BE $1.75. YEAH.
SO LET'S GO BACK BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS THIS SLIDE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO TO YOUR POINT THE PIECE OF THE PIE RIGHT.
SO THE PIECE OF THE PIE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE FIVE INDIVIDUALS ARE SHARING THE COST OF THIS PIE.
IF WE WERE TO ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THE PIE.
BING. OR ANOTHER PERSON TO THE PIE.
NOW THE PIE IS COSTING THE SAME AMOUNT, BUT IT'S BEING SHARED WITH ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
YES. AND WE CAN THANK OUR LOVELY CFO FOR THAT SLIDE.
SO HERE'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GROWTH IS ACTUALLY PRETTY STEADY.
WE WENT FROM A $28 MILLION LEVY DOWN TO A $26 MILLION LEVY.
AND THAT DIP WAS BECAUSE OF THOSE.
WHAT HELPED US SURVIVE THAT DIP WAS THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS.
THE TRANSPORTATION STABILIZATION.
THE ENROLLMENT STABILIZATION, WHICH WAS $40 MILLION HERE, THIS JUMP HERE THAT YOU SEE FROM 31 MILLION TO 38 MILLION IS THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE, BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS ARE NOW GONE AND THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK.
AND THEN IT HAS A STEADY INCREASE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE.
THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE ARE BACK INTO.
AND THAT'S WHERE THOSE NUMBERS COME INTO PLAY.
HERE'S WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR A TAXPAYER THAT OWNS A CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW OWNS A $579,000 HOME VALUED HOME AT 579.
WE'RE ASSUMING THAT WITH A 5.5% GROWTH THAT 2025, THAT HOUSE WILL BE WORTH 600,000, THEN IT'LL BE WORTH 621.
THE DIFFERENCE THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD PAY WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY PAYING RIGHT NOW WITH OUR $1.65 IS THEY'RE PAYING $957 A YEAR FOR THAT.
THEY'RE PAYING THAT THIS YEAR.
IN 26 THEY PAY $200, $209 MORE.
SO YOU SEE THE BIG JUMP HERE IS THE 209.
THEN IT GOES UP $43, $43 AND $47.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO THE HOMEOWNER, THAT WOULD GO THROUGH.
THIS NUMBER, THIS $600,000 HOME EVALUATION IS MORE REPRESENTATIVE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE MOVED IT TO THAT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND A TAXPAYER.
SO NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO.
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S SEVERAL PAGES LONG.
[00:35:05]
AND I JUST WANTED TO WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF IT.THE RESOLUTION IS A, IT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSITION TO THE VOTERS.
IT HAS NINE SECTIONS, AND THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO APPROVAL AS REQUIRED TO EXECUTE THE RESOLUTION.
SO THE FIRST SECTION THAT YOU'LL SEE WHEN AND I BELIEVE.
THERE'S ONE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE VIEW FOR YOU A DRAFT RESOLUTION SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.
BUT FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS THAT THE CURRENT EP&O LEVY WILL EXPIRE IN 2025, AND THERE WILL BE INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND OPERATIONAL EXPENSES NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE, AND ALSO THAT THE DISTRICT'S PROPOSED EPFO LEVY PROVIDES FOR APPROXIMATELY THE SAME EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS THAT ARE AS EXPIRING, AND THE DISTRICT HAS OR WILL RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM OSPI PRIOR TO THE BALLOT SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS.
SO WE'LL SUBMIT THIS AND THE INFORMATION TO OSPI FOR APPROVAL.
THE NEXT SECTION IS SECTION TWO CALLING OF THE ELECTION, AND THAT IS REQUESTING CLARK COUNTY AUDITORS TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL ELECTION ON FEBRUARY THE 11TH. AND THAT INCLUDES ESTIMATED TAX RATES AND TAX AMOUNTS.
AND THE SECTION THREE IS THE USE OF TAXES.
SO RIGHT HERE IS WE ARE ASKING THE STATE OR WE'RE ASKING THE VOTERS FOR TO APPROVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE, INCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO STUDENT SAFETY, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT STAFF, SMALL CLASSES, CURRICULUM, NURSING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, BUSSING, SPORTS, AND THE ARTS.
SO THOSE ARE EXAMPLES THAT WE ARE USING WITHIN THE BALLOT.
SO THIS IS WHAT THE BALLOT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A VOTER TO REVIEW AND TO MAKE A DECISION UPON.
SO AGAIN, IT'S EXACTLY PRETTY MUCH WHAT I JUST COVERED.
IT WOULD COVER AN EXPIRING LEVY.
IT'S CONSIDERED A REPLACEMENT LEVY.
AND AND IT, IT, IT COVERS THE AMOUNTS THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.
SO THIS IS JUST PREVENT PRESENTING A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE RESOLUTION TO THE AUDITOR NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 13TH FOR THE FEBRUARY 11TH ELECTION.
AND THEN SECTION SIX IS NOTICES RELATED TO THE BALLOT TITLE.
THEY WILL MAKE SURE IT IS IN LEGAL FORM, AND THEN THEY WILL CONTACT THE DISTRICT OR OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, SHOULD THEY REQUIRE ANY CHANGES TO OURS. WE WOULD CERTAINLY NOT EXPECT THAT, BUT IT IS IN THERE.
SECTION SEVEN COVERS THE EXECUTION, GENERAL AUTHORIZATION AND RATIFICATION.
AGAIN, PRESENTING IT BY DECEMBER 13TH FOR EXECUTION, FOR A VOTE.
AND THEN SECTION EIGHT IS COVERING THAT.
THE DIRECTORS MUST BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION AND PRESENTED AND EXECUTED AND THAT IF THERE ARE CERTAIN SECTIONS IN THE, IN THE RESOLUTION THAT COULD BE CHALLENGED.
NOT ALL OF THE RESOLUTION IS CHALLENGED.
IS GOING TO BE IN A ITS ONLY THE SECTION THAT WOULD BE CHALLENGED.
AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE THAT THE DATE THAT IT JUST TAKES EFFECT AFTER ADOPTION.
SO THOSE ARE THE THAT'S THE COVERING, THE RESOLUTION.
SO HERE'S THE TIMELINE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS I MENTIONED.
[00:40:11]
WE COULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.WE HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 13TH, THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE BALLOT.
SO THIS IS REALLY OUR LAST MEETING THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
SO WE'RE PUSHING IT AS FAR AS WE CAN.
BUT THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THAT IN BY DECEMBER 13TH.
THE BALLOTS FOR THE FEBRUARY ELECTION WOULD BE MAILED OUT ON JANUARY 24TH.
THE ELECTION WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 11TH, AND THE RESULTS WILL BE CERTIFIED ON FEBRUARY 21ST. I JUST WE HAVE A FEW OTHER SLIDES IN HERE THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO NOTE.
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT ARE HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY AFFECTED IS OUR CLASSIFIED STAFFING.
YOU CAN SEE WHILE OUR ENROLLMENT HAS REMAINED FAIRLY STABLE, WE TOOK A DIP HERE.
WE'VE RISEN BACK UP TO OUR PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS HERE.
THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WE'VE NEEDED IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS.
TO SOME OF YOUR POINT, THE UNFUNDED MANDATES WE RECEIVE, FOR INSTANCE, THE INCLUSIONARY WORK WE'RE DOING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHERE THE EXPECTATION IS WE NEED TO GET STUDENTS OUT INTO MAINSTREAM CLASSES WHICH REQUIRE MORE STAFFING, ENABLE US TO HAVING TO DO MORE THE STAFFING WE NEED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THE SAFETY IN INCREASE IN IN STAFF NEEDED TO SECURE BUILDINGS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFER.
GIVEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE LED TO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FTE.
TEN YEARS AGO, WE HAD 384 CLASSIFIED STAFF.
NOW WE HAVE 543 CLASSIFIED STAFF.
SO THAT JUST GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE.
SAME THING FOR OUR INSTRUCTIONAL BILINGUAL.
YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR NUMBERS HERE HAVE EXPLODED.
AND NOW WE'RE UP TO 1589 AND GROWING AT A PRETTY STEADY RATE.
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED MORE STAFFING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY PUT ON OUR SYSTEM IS CERTAINLY INCREASING TO WARRANT THOSE ADDITIONAL STAFFING NUMBERS. I SHARED WITH YOU THIS ONE ALREADY.
I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS INTERESTING.
JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF PRICE INCREASES.
HERE'S JUST FOR INSTANCE, PAPER TOWELS IN 2019.
AND OUR CURRENT INVENTORY IS NOW THAT COSTS US $57.17.
AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT. THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES.
BUT YOU CAN PUT THAT IN BUILDING REPAIRS.
YOU CAN PUT THAT IN EMPLOYEE COSTS.
YOU CAN PUT THAT IN INSURANCE.
YOU CAN PUT THAT IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
HERE'S AN INSURANCE ONE, FOR INSTANCE.
IN 2019, OUR TOTAL INSURANCE BILL WAS $1.215 MILLION.
IN 2024, OUR TOTAL INSURANCE BILL WAS $2.25 MILLION.
AND THOSE ARE ACTUALLY STRAIGHT EXAMPLES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH.
SPECIAL EDUCATION, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU.
SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, OUR COSTS IN SPED HAVE INCREASED 51.34% SINCE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR.
IN 2019-20, WE HAD 1980 SPECIAL ED STUDENTS AND IN 2024-25, WE HAVE 1818 ACTUALLY OVER 150 LESS STUDENTS, BUT THE COST HAS INCREASED BY 51.34% FOR US.
AND I CAN ASSURE ALL OF YOU THAT WE ARE NOT EXTRAVAGANT BY ANY MEANS WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING THESE SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE.
DENNY, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE GRAPHS ON CLASSIFIED STAFF? THIS ONE? NO.
CLASSIFIED STAFF AND THE TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL.
[00:45:02]
YEAH. 20 AND 21 YEAR.AND IT DOES THE SAME THING DOWN IN THE BILINGUAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE WE JUST NEEDED MORE PEOPLE.
THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE.
RIGHT. SO AGAIN, I JUST IT LOOKS WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT BACKSTORY INFORMATION, IT'S LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? YOU JUST HIRED TOO MANY PEOPLE.
EXACTLY. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF FACTORS IN PLAY HERE.
NUMBER ONE IS WHEN STUDENTS RETURN BACK FROM COVID, THEIR NEEDS WERE A LOT MORE SIGNIFICANT, RIGHT? MORE MORE BEHAVIOR CONCERNS, MORE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, MORE MORE ACADEMIC REMEDIATION NEEDED, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND NUMBER TWO, TO YOUR POINT, SOME OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES AND THE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE COME DOWN FROM THE STATE HAVE REQUIRED US TO PROVIDE THAT AND SOME WANTS AND DESIRES FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR INSTANCE, WE WANT SCHOOLS TO BE SAFER.
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THESE THINGS IN PLACE.
YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY, TED, TO YOUR POINT, THERE'S ALSO JUST THE THE PAPERWORK SIDE OF THINGS, THE PAPERWORK THAT THE STATE IS ASKING US TO COMPLETE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES IS SIGNIFICANT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE TO ADD TO THE WORKLOAD OF OUR INDIVIDUALS, OFTENTIMES WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK AND GET THE REPORTS DONE AND FILE THE PAPERWORK AND TAKE CARE OF THIS AND TAKE CARE OF THAT AND DO ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND WHAT IT ADDS UP TO AT THE END IS A LOT OF IT AND THAT'S TO OUR COST.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN AND I'LL SAY IT TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR LEVY, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT OUR STAFFING MODELS COMPARED TO OTHER DISTRICTS.
WE ARE RUNNING A LEANER SHIP THAN OTHERS AROUND US, AND FROM A STATE LEVEL.
I MEAN, I COULD SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SHOW YOU THIS SLIDE.
AND I SHOW YOU THIS SLIDE FOR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION, A $3.3 MILLION SHORTFALL.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE RUN A TIGHT SHIP.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MIDDLE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE DIRECTORS, AND THEN WE HAVE NOBODY ELSE.
AND SO OUR DIRECTORS ARE A LOT OF HANDS ON.
WE RUN A, LEAN SHIP, YOU KNOW.
WE HAVE 21 PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTORS AT DISTRICT OFFICE THAT RUN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, AND YET WE'RE STILL $3.3 MILLION SHORT COVERING THAT.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT DO THAT, TWO PEOPLE IN A SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, TWO PEOPLE, ONE PERSON THAT RUNS THE ENTIRE CTE PROGRAM, ONE PERSON WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE THAT OVERSEE OPERATIONS AND FACILITIES.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR GETTING THIS OUT THERE? OUR PLAN IS WE HAVE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, YOU KNOW, IT IS INCREASINGLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE PLAN IS TO ENGAGE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN THE DISCUSSION.
SO THAT IS NOT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
WHAT IS DIFFICULT IS ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND THE DISCUSSION IS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THEIR, IN TODAY'S WORLD, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THEIR INFORMATION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR INFORMATION ON.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE MOST HAVE TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION IS THE PARENTS AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIRECT TIES TO THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
[00:50:05]
IN OUR LAST ELECTION, ONLY 3850 OF THOSE VOTED IN THE ELECTION.AND AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE THERE MAY BE A PERCEPTION THAT BATTLE GROUND DOESN'T PASS LEVIES, BATTLE GROUND HAS PASSED LEVIES AND IS PASSING LEVIES.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE LAST TIME WE FAILED A LEVY WAS IN 2006.
SO I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITY OF PARENTS, THAT WE CAN GET THAT VOTER TURNOUT TO BE CLOSER TO 50% OR 60%.
THOSE THAT UNDERSTAND THE DIRECT IMPACT THAT OUR SERVICES HAVE ON THEIR STUDENTS, THAT WE CAN PASS A LEVY AT $1.95 RATE, IT WILL MEET OUR NEEDS, IT WILL PLACE US IN GOOD FINANCIAL CONDITION, AND IT WILL PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE AND NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO FULFILL OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND AGAIN FULLY TRANSPARENT IN HOW WE SPEND MONEY AND WHAT WE SPEND OUR MONEY.
MICHELLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO THE IDEA OF MEETING WITH ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME THROUGH.
I AM WILLING TO MEET WITH ANYBODY.
WE WILL CONDUCT COMMUNITY FORUMS AT EVERY ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES.
WE ARE LOOKING AT CONDUCTING AT LEAST SEVEN COMMUNITY FORUMS. AND THE REASON IT'S SEVEN IS BECAUSE WE WOULD DO ONE FORUM FOR AMBOY JACO.
WE WOULD DO ONE FOR THE TUCKS CAMPUS, ONE FOR THE DAYBREAK CAMPUS, ONE FOR THE PLEASANT VALLEY CAMPUS, ONE FOR PRAIRIE, AND PERHAPS INVITE BG, VA OR THAT. OR WE DID ONE FOR MAPLE GROVE.
WE'D INVITE RIVER HOME LINK AND BG VA.
AND WE WILL PRESENT THE INFORMATION, WE WILL EXPLAIN OUR CASE AND THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, WITH THE HOPE OF HAVING A MEETING THAT 50% THRESHOLD AND BEING ABLE TO PASS THIS.
YOU SAID THE STRUCTURE IS ONE, TWO AND FOUR YEAR TERMS. YES. HAS THERE BEEN ANY TWO, TWO, THREE AND FOUR, TWO, THREE AND FOUR.
OKAY. SORRY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY EVALUATION INTO ANY POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF ONLY DOING ON A TWO YEAR? NO. THAT'S A THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
WE ACTUALLY IT WAS MYSELF AND SHELLY AND AMANDA AND TERRY DODSON.
WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND WE DID LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS SHORTER, BUT IT ALWAYS THERE'S ALWAYS PROS AND THERE'S CONS TO IT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT, IT ENDS UP BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
THIS IS I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN A SUPERINTENDENT.
THIS IS MY FOURTH YEAR AND THIS IS THE THIRD LEVY THAT I'VE HAD TO RUN.
AND SO IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME.
YOU KNOW, THIS THIS ELECTION WILL PROBABLY COST US OVER $100,000.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE MAN HOURS THAT ARE ALSO SPENT INTO IT.
GOING BACK TO THEM TOO OFTEN CAN BE CONFUSING AND CAN BE FRUSTRATING.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT NEGOTIATIONS AS A COMPLICATING FACTOR, SO THERE'S A WHOLE RANGE TO THAT.
WE EXPLORED THE IDEA OF THREE.
WE EVEN EXPLORED THE IDEA OF TWO.
AND WE KEEP COMING BACK TO, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE JUST BETTER FOR US TO GO FOR A FOUR YEAR, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK IN TERMS OF, OF IF YOU'RE GOING TO START, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO START A PROGRAM, YOU DON'T WANT TO START IT KNOWING THAT IN TWO YEARS IT COULD BE GONE, RIGHT? WELL, I HONESTLY, I THINK THE TIMING ON THIS ONE IS NOT ENTIRELY HORRIBLE EITHER.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE THE BIG ELECTION HAPPENS THIS NOVEMBER, AND BY THE TIME FEBRUARY ROLLS AROUND, VOTERS WILL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHICH WAY THINGS ARE GOING. SO WHICH WILL TELL US A LOT TOO.
RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, WHAT IT GIVES US BY GOING IN FEBRUARY IS IT GIVES US AN AT LEAST AN OPTION OF CHOOSING TO RUN SOMETHING IN APRIL, PRIOR TO HAVING TO MAKE THE CUTS ON MAY 1ST.
[00:55:02]
DIDN'T THAT SURVEY WE HAD DONE COME BACK SAYING FEBRUARY WAS ALWAYS THE BEST? FEBRUARY IS THE NUMBER ONE HIGHEST.IT'S THE HIGHEST PASSING RATE FOR RUNNING A LEVY IN THE STATE IS FEBRUARY.
SO EVERGREEN WILL BE RUNNING A LEVY.
RIDGEFIELD. RIDGEFIELD WILL BE RUNNING A LEVY.
CAMAS WILL BE RUNNING A CAPITAL LEVY.
VANCOUVER WILL BE RUNNING A CAPITAL LEVY.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, SOME OF THESE RATES ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE.
I WILL SAY THAT PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE.
PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE THAT WE ARE BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE.
THE STATE AVERAGE IS SOMETHING AROUND $18,900 CLOSER TO 19,000.
AND OUR RATE IS RIGHT AROUND 16,800.
SO OUR PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE IS LOWER THAN SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.
I THINK EVERGREEN HAS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A LOWER RATE THAN OURS.
SO MY EXPECTATION IS THAT EVERGREEN WILL BE RUNNING THEIR DOLLAR 59 FOR A CONSIDERABLY LARGER AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN.
SO JUST FOR TIMELINE THIS IS A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION.
THERE'S A FEW OF US WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
BUT THOSE OF US WHO MAYBE HAVEN'T.
AND SO AS, AS A BOARD DIRECTOR VERSUS JUST SOMEONE VOTING ON THIS.
SO I GUESS I WOULD ASK IS THAT THERE'S THERE SHOULD BE LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
YEAH, MAYBE AS PART OF DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
AND PLEASE, IF YOU I WOULD ASK ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS, IF YOU REACH OUT TO ADMINISTRATION TO ASK QUESTIONS, TO PLEASE BRING THAT QUESTION BACK TO THE MEETING BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE IS PROBABLY THINKING IT.
JUST TO REPEAT IT AND HAVE THE ANSWER AGAIN.
SO I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL, WHO MAY BE LISTENING.
WITH THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. THAT WILL WRAP UP OUR SPECIAL WORK SESSION ON THE LEVY.
AND WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 5:28.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.