Levy provides for education upgrade

In a few days, Colfax School District voters will receive a ballot with the opportunity to renew the educational programs and operation levy.

It is my opinion that equal access to excellent primary and secondary education is the greatest opportunity we as a community have to level the economic playing field for future generations. We cannot make every child in our district achieve their best, but we can provide every child the resources to learn and succeed.

The renewal of this levy will ensure funding of essential programs in the Colfax School District that are not fully funded by the state. This includes nursing, counseling, curriculum, insurance, the arts and extracurricular activities from vocational clubs to athletics, and utilities. The levy increase from two years ago is to maintain the funding level in the current inflationary trend, as well as the priority to upgrade curriculum and the education of our students.

The state is required to fund local schools. Additional income by local levies is allowed by the state up to a rate of $2.50 per thousand of assessed value — about $1.2 million. The levy would be less than the state allowed amount at $1.99 per thousand of assessed value or $960,000 for 2023 and $2.00 per thousand of assessed value or $990,000 for 2024.

Every dollar from state funding is controlled by the state. The levy allows the school board and administration flexibility to target local educational priorities.

Weston Claassen

Colfax