Battle Ground Public Schools

2015–16 COMMUNITY REPORT | 5 Thanks to our community members, the four- year replacement maintenance and operations levy provides approximately $25 million—or 18 percent of total revenue—in local funding to Battle Ground Public Schools. Battle Ground patrons approved the four-year replacement maintenance and operations levy in 2013. The levy allows educational programs and facility services to continue at a level that provides an education focused on the whole child and that enables students to engage in quality learning environments. The levy pays for basic services that the state does not fund, including textbooks and curricula, staff salaries and professional development, transportation and building maintenance. It also pays for health services, music and art classes, after-school activities, drug prevention education, instructional technology, security monitors, education for students with special needs, utilities and insurance. Without the support of levy dollars, the district would lose 18 percent of its operating budget and not be able to maintain proper staffing levels in each building. LEVY DOLLARS ARE THE DIFFERENCE WHERE LEVY DOLLARS ARE SPENT Overall 2015-16 allocation of $32.6 million includes $6.7 million of levy equalization funds from the state. BASIC EDUCATION/STAFF SUPPORT: $22.8 MILLION Maintain appropriate staffing levels at schools, K-8 music and art programs, professional development for state- mandated programs, nurses, prevention programs and student transportation TEACHING AND LEARNING SUPPORT: $2.9 MILLION Highly capable programs, English as a Second Language (ESL), textbooks, Washington State Learning Standards alignment, Smarter Balanced Assessment, student data management system and family access STUDENT SERVICES: $2 MILLION Special education staffing, K-8 counselors and health services TECHNOLOGY AND BUILDING SAFETY: $2.5 MILLION Student and staff equipment, network equipment, building support staff, professional development, security personnel and student resource officers PUBLIC RELATIONS: $109,000 Communications department staff, web development OPERATIONS: $1.8 MILLION Overall annual maintenance, grounds, asset preservation staff and district vehicles HUMAN RESOURCES: $500,000 Recruit and retain staff Capital Projects Total Bond Debt M&O Levy Technology $8 $6 $4 $2 $0 Evergreen Hockinson Camas Washougal Vancouver Woodland Battle Ground LaCenter Ridgefield $6.13 $5.75 $5.37 $5.35 $4.85 $4.55 $4.48 $4.38 $3.38 TAX RATE COMPARISON The graph below shows a comparison of 2016 tax rates for local school districts. Battle Ground falls in the bottom third of local tax rates per $1,000 of assessed home value with a 2016 rate of $4.4818. This rate is the combination of the low bond debt rate of $0.8116 per $1,000 and the levy rate of $3.6701 per $1,000. This year, Evergreen, Vancouver, LaCenter, Ridgefield and Hockinson school districts passed replacement levies and Camas passed a capital improvement bond, which will all be levied in 2017. Hockinson and Ridgefield levy rates are expected to increase for 2017. Camas's new bond is $120 million.

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