MATTAWA — The Wahluke School Board has agreed to ask district voters to approve an Operation and Maintenance Levy of $2.91 in the next election, Feb. 9.

“Our current levy is about to expire and the board has decided, after much discussion, to run it at the same rate it was two years ago which is $2.91,” Superintendent Aaron Chavez said.

That means a tax of $2.91 for each $1,000 of value of property for property owners in the district. The tax on a $100,000 home would be $291.

“These levy dollars allow us to have a band program, athletic programs, and several other programs state basic education funds don’t cover,” Chavez said.

Chavez noted that passage of the levy will trigger a levy equalization from the state to the tune of $2 million. Levy equalization funds help poorer districts compete with more affluent districts.

“This levy just replaces the expiring levy,” Chavez said. “Investing in our children is the key to Mattawa and our future.”

Ballots will start to arrive in your mail on or about Jan. 22.

In other news, the district has moved its email addresses to wahluke.net as part of the transition to 1-to-1 iPad district. If you want to email a staff member simply use that person’s first initial and last name in most cases.

Chavez reminds parents they check out district events on the district’s online calendar. You can download information to your phone on any school event by clicking the export button.