The maintenance-and-operation levy comprises 21 percent of the Auburn School District’s funding.

That was the overriding message Superintendent Alan Spicciati conveyed during a Jan. 20 open house at the district’s headquarters to discuss the four-year renewal levy.

Ballots for the all-mail election must be postmarked by Feb. 9.

The levy, which was passed in 2012 with 59.75 percent of the vote in King and Pierce counties, expires in February. That means the new collection rate would begin midway through the 2016-17 school year. A simple majority of more than 50 percent is required to pass the levy.

If the measure fails, Spicciati said, the school district likely would rerun it in the April special election.

Property owners would pay an estimated $4.13 per $1,000 of assessed property value during the first year of the levy. Actual levy rates will depend on whether property value projections by the King County auditor come to fruition. Those projections were used in calculating levy rate estimates.

The levy will collect $40.7 million in 2017, $43 million in 2018, $45.4 million in 2019 and $47.75 million in 2020. The total tax rate will remain level.

Estimated levy rates in 2018, 2019 and 2020 are $4.23, $4.34 and $4.43 per thousand.

Funds from the levy are used for all athletics and activities, special education, textbooks, supplies, counselors, nurses, grounds, building maintenance, honors and Advanced Placement education and transportation.

“We don’t feel we could do a sufficient special education program without levy dollars,” Spicciati said.

Thirteen percent of levy funding is dedicated special education. Athletics and activities also receive the same amount. Many school districts use revenues generated from participation fees at the middle and high schools to defray costs to play sports. ASD does not. School board president Anne Baunach said her colleagues have discussed that numerous times, but they concluded that a pay-to-play system would prohibit some students from competing.

The majority of levy funds – 59 percent – are dedicated educational programs and operations. That includes additional teachers for a variety of programs along with additional textbooks and supplies, among other educational tools in classrooms.

Cindi Blansfield, the district’s assistant superintendent for business and operations, said the levy is a significant component of ASD’s budget, which is about $195.2 million this school year.

For more information, visit www.auburn.wednet.edu/2016levy