Ballots For White Salmon Schools Bond To Go Out

Ballots will go out on Friday to voters in the White Salmon Valley School District for both a 21-year $77.8 million bond to create a K-12 campus at the current middle and high school site that would replace Whitson Elementary, and a three-year renewal of the Educational Programs and Operations Levy.  District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says approval of the bond, which has an estimated property tax impact of $1.66 per thousand dollars of assessed value, would qualify the district for $34 million in state funding for the project, and bring operational savings as well.  The EP&O levy rate would move up slightly from $1.57 per thousand to $1.61.  Polkinghorn pointed out they are not seeking a capital levy in this election because they are asking for the bond measure.  Ballots must be returned or postmarked by February 10.