School Board Meeting Summary
Wenatchee School District
August 21, 2019 - Special Meeting
The Wenatchee School Board will now provide a "Board Meeting Summary Briefing" after each Board meeting. The summary includes a short description of the main topics and action items. These summaries are not meant to replace minutes. The minutes for each meeting are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting. We hope these summaries provide some basic information and context around the reports, presentations and action items.
For the full packet of information, including presentations and reports Click Here.
Live streaming was not available for this meeting due to location.
Budget Information Community Meeting
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
Wenatchee High School
August 21, 2019
6:00 p.m.
Attendance: Sunny Hemphill, President, Laura Jaecks, Vice President, Dr. Karina Vega-Villa, Sarah Knox, Dr. Michele Sandberg
Purpose
The purpose of the special meeting was to share information with the public about the District’s projected budget deficit for the 19-20 school year and proposed estimated 30-cent levy increase and to collect feedback through citizen comments and questions.
The WSD Board is scheduled to take action at the August 27 board meeting on approving the budget for the 19-20 year and proposed estimated 30-cent levy increase, now estimated to be closer to 23-cents based on current projected assessed valuations.
BUDGET PRESENTATION
President Hemphill welcomed the audience and Superintendent Dr. Gordon thanked the crowd for attending tonight’s presentation. Superintendent Gordon, Deputy Superintendent Jon DeJong and Executive Director of Finance and Operations Larry Mayfield shared a presentation on the District’s budget and recommendation of an estimated 30-cent levy increase.
The District projects a budget deficit of 1.6 million for the 19-20 year without a levy increase due to changes in the state school funding model and subsequent salary and benefit-cost increases, in addition to declining enrollment projections.
A proposed estimated 30-cent increase ($1.5 million) to the levy rate in the calendar year 2020 is being recommended by District Administration as a necessary measure to avoid further staff cuts and stabilize the district’s budget for the next two years. The proposed levy increase would provide about $806,000 in revenue for the 2019-20 school year and $1.58 million for the 2020-21 school year.
The proposed estimated 30-cent levy increase would bring the levy rate to an estimated $1.80 for every $1,000 of assessed value. The state capped local school levies at $1.50 in 2018 as part of a levy swap that also increased the state tax. The legislature lifted the levy lid to $2.50 during the last legislative session, giving school districts authority to restore previously voter-approved levies rates. The estimated voter-approved levy rate in Wenatchee was $2.96.
CITIZEN COMMENT
Chelan County Assessor Deanna Walter provided additional information on how the County determines property taxes.
Several citizens asked clarifying questions of District staff and shared personal perspectives about the proposed levy increase with District administration and the Board.
ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 | Regular Board Meeting at WSD Central Office 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Septemener 10, 2019 | Regular Board Meeting at WSD Central Office 6:00 p.m.
Connect with us
Email: District_Communications@wenatcheeschools.org
Website: http://www.wenatcheeschools.org
Location: 235 Sunset Avenue, Wenatchee, WA, USA
Phone: 5096638161
Facebook: Facebook.com/WSD246
Twitter: @WenatcheeSD