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Board members cite state underfunding, voucher growth in case for levy
Summary
Several board members linked the levy request to state funding declines and rapid growth in voucher spending, arguing local revenue is needed to preserve staff and programs after $16 million in cuts.
During discussion of the proposed levy, multiple board members raised concerns that state funding trends and voucher expansion have reduced local revenue capacity and forced difficult local budget choices. One member said voucher spending had “exploded to over $2,000,000,000 a year,” and another noted the district had made roughly $16 million in cuts this year. Those comments framed the board’s decision to seek local operating revenue.
Board members emphasized the levy’s role in preserving staff, programs and services that they said attract families to the district. Miss Barnes (speaker 6) urged the community to support public education, citing strong kindergarten and freshman enrollment. No external fiscal analysis was presented during the meeting; board members relied on committee discussion and internal budget work to justify the request.
