A replacement for an expiring levy for Woodland Public Schools isn’t likely to pass based on the latest numbers from the February special election.
As of press deadline, Woodland Public Schools’ replacement educational programs and operations levy had about 43.7% approval among nearly 3,400 votes. On the Clark County side of the Lewis River, voters were somewhat more in support as roughly 46.8% of voters cast ballots in favor of the measure.
The levy, if approved, would collect $5.9 million in 2024, $6.25 million in 2025 and $6.625 million in 2026. The property tax rate is projected to be less than what property owners in the district pay for the expiring levy, according to information provided by the district. The current levy rate is $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The new levy’s rate in 2024 would be $1.91 per $1,000.
Woodland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Green said he was disappointed with the results.
“Disappointed not only with the outcome, but with the very low voter turnout,” Green said.
There were approximately 1,000 fewer voters who took part in the February election compared to when the district passed its previous replacement levy in April 2020. In that election, about 55.2% of voters approved the measure.
“That bottom line, I think, what really impacted us is folks didn’t return their ballots,” Green said.
That April election wasn’t the first time in 2020 that the district ran a levy replacement measure. In February of that year, the measure failed with only about 44.8% approval and there were 200 fewer voters than who voted in the latest election.
Running the levy again is a foregone conclusion for the district. Green said the board met on Thursday. The school board directed Green to prepare a resolution to re-run the levy on the April special election ballot.
The levy is estimated to make up about 12% of the district’s operating budget, Green previously said. Though a second chance at passing the levy is on the horizon, Green said the board of directors is already considering $3 million in budget cuts in case it does not pass again.
