Levy Funding
School nurses. Extracurricular activities. Art and music. Student technology. Special education services. These and more are just a few of the needs in the Richland School District made possible by local levy dollars.
The Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) and Technology levies provide roughly 15 percent of RSD’s annual budget. Without that amount, the district would have to trim about $30 million in expenses in its 2021-22 budget.
Distribution of EP&O Levy by Percent
Clinton Sherman
Executive Director for Financial Services
(509) 967-6005
Clinton.Sherman@rsd.edu
Distribution of EP&O Levy by Dollar Amount
What does the levy support?
Staffing & Programs pays for Advanced Placement, Highly Capable Program, Substitute Teachers, Teacher Mentors, Teachers not funded by the State, Assessment Facilitators, Secretaries, Building Principals, Psychologists and social workers and more.
Health & Safety pays for school resource officers, security, health room aides and more.
Athletics & Activities pays for after school programs, coaches, advisors, competitions, visual and performing arts, extracurricular activities and clubs (such as robotics and foreign language), and more.
Maintenance, Operations & Transportation pays for utilities, insurance, building custodians, grounds crew, mechanics and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Levies
- What is the difference between a levy and a bond?
- Didn't the state raise property taxes several years ago to pay more for schools?
- What about all the extra money the district received from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Is the district trying to raise the EP&O levy rate?
- What have the past tax rates been on the levies?
- Is there a tax break for seniors citizens, disabled people or low-income homeowners?