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

Learn About Levies

Distribution of EP&O Levy by Dollar Amount

Distribution of Educational Programs & Operations 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?

Levies and bonds are both voter-approved measures that can be used to pay for needs not covered by a school district's typical state funding.

Levies can be used to enrich district programs and operations beyond state funding. This can include paying for staffing costs, equipment, and arts and athletics programs. Levies may also be used to pay for modifications and renovations to facilities and design and development of future school district construction projects. Levies must be approved by a simple majority of voters to be implemented for between 1 to 6 years.
Bonds may pay for construction of new schools and district facilities. They must be approved by a super majority (60 percent) of voters and are implemented for between 20 to 30 years.

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?

RSD did receive funding from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund from the federal government through the 2020-21 school year. These dollars reimbursed districts for additional costs caused by the pandemic or to address impacts to students from the pandemic.

RSD has already spent these funds on personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and students, physical and technical infrastructure to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 in schools and academic supports and tools to address learning loss.

Is the district trying to raise the EP&O levy rate?

What have the past tax rates been on the levies?

Operations Levy Tax Rate

2022	$2.35
2021	$2.46
2020	$2.50
2019	$1.50
2018	$3.45
2017	$3.40
2016	$3.31
2015	$3.32
2014	$3.26
2013	$3.21
2012	$3.09
2011	$3.10
2010	$2.95
2009	$2.74
2008	$2.88
2007	$2.96
2006	$2.86
2005	$3.01
2004	$3.21

Technology Levy Tax Rate

2022	$0.47
2021	$0.41
2020	$0.42
2019	$0.47

Pre-K & Elementary

Middle Schools

High Schools

Choice Schools