PORT ANGELES — Seven organizations have endorsed the proposed Port Angeles School District property tax levy, which is on the Feb. 8 ballot.
The groups are the Port Angeles City Council, Olympic Medical Center commissioners, Port Angeles Business Association, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, Clallam County commissioners, Port Angeles Realtors Association and the Clallam Democratic Party, said the Port Angeles Citizens for Education, formed to support the levy.
The group also said nearly 500 individuals and business supporters have signed on to support passage of the four-year levy that would collect about $8.2 million in the first year and successively a little more each year.
The estimated rate of $2.65 per $1,000 assessed valuation is expected to stay the same.
Ballots for the maintenance and operations levy were mailed last week. The district has 18,868 registered voters.
During the special election, Quillayute Valley School District registered voters are considering a two-year levy that would bring in $626,348 each year with an estimated rate of $1.41 per $1,000 assessed valuation.
Current levies will expire at the end of this year.
“It’s important to remember that this is not a new tax,” said Port Angeles Citizens for Education co-chair Steve Methner.
“It is a renewal of the levy that we already pay and one we’ve been supporting since 1969.
“The increase will help offset some, but nowhere near all, of the revenue losses that are due to recent state budget cuts.”
For more information, visit the Port Angeles Citizens For Education website at www.facebook.com/supportpaschools.
