School officials in four local school districts are looking for voter approval on upcoming school maintenance and operations (M & O) levy issues on the Feb. 9 ballot. Granger, Mt Adams and Zillah are seeking two-year replacement levies. Wapato is asking for a replacement of its four-year levy. The levies provide funding for day-to-day district operating expenses.
What all four districts are also emphasizing to voters in their individual districts are all the levies are not for a new tax, but the levies will replace an existing tax that is expiring at the end of 2010.
Statewide, school district M & O levies allow citizens in each district to fund school programs not covered by state and federal basic educational dollars. Funds are received through the assessment of a special property tax.
According to school officials from each district, the funds are essential to providing the quality of education in each district. If approved, the levy dollars will go directly to fund classroom and support programs.
In each school district, M & O funding provides:
* Additional funds for teachers to keep class sizes smaller
* Paraeducators and other support staff involved in the educational programs
* Textbooks and instructional materials
* Student transportation
* Extra curricular activities including athletics, music and drama
* Co-curricular activities
* Additional programs for special needs students
* Support funding for programs, services and technology
Specific levy breakdowns in local School Districts:

Granger:
The Granger School levy will be assessed at $2.49 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If approved, the levy will provide the Granger District with $4.1 million. The 1,504 students in Granger depend on the funds from the M & O levy for fifth grade students to attend Camp Cispus, sponsorship of Missoula Children’s Theatre programs, Honor Society, student council and several other athletic, club and activity programs that enhance the educational program in Granger.

Wapato:
The Wapato School District is seeking a four-year $620,000 levy based on $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. According to Wapato School officials, the current M & O levy represents 1.8 percent of the district’s day-to-day budget.  The Wapato School District qualifies for roughly $3 million in local Levy Assistance from the state. It accounts for nine percent of the District’s current budget.
Zillah:
Zillah residents are being asked to approve a $725,000 M & O levy, the same amount that was approved by voters for the 2010 calendar year.
For Zillah residents, the levy will cost $2.15 per $1000 of assessed valuation during the first year and $2.14 in the second year.  Zillah’s 1,300 students benefit from levy dollars through all day kindergarten classes, the Mighty Leopards program, ZAP Alternative education, Summer School and After School programs, and advanced courses in math, science, social students and English. 
“The levy dollars we receive is what makes Zillah School programs unique to the Zillah School District,” McKay said. “Zillah voters approve these dollars outside the basic education to fund what they and the board determine to be important for Zillah childhood educational programs.”
Voting for all four M & O levies will be done by mail-in balloting. Yakima County Elections officials mailed ballots to all qualified registered voters in Yakima County on Jan. 22. Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 9 to be valid. Each District’s M & O levy requires a 51 percent voter approval for passage.