Bethel likely to seek levy to fill gap.

Byline: Serena Markstrom The Register-Guard

The Bethel School Board agreed Monday that it needs to put a local option levy before voters to fill part of its budget gap. The next step is to answer two key questions: how much to ask for and where the money should be spent.

District spokesman Pat McGillivray presented findings from a July telephone survey that asked 404 likely voters in the district for their opinions on funding levels ranging from $70 to $190 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

"Obviously the less money you ask for, the stronger your support for the measure would be," he told the board. At $190, 28 percent strongly opposed the idea and 28 percent strongly supported it. At $100, 23 percent strongly opposed it and 43 percent strongly supported it.

When board member Wayne Watkins asked McGillivray if he thought the survey was worth the investment, he said yes.

"You have to know what your voters are saying before you stick your hand out," McGillivray said. Of those surveyed, 71 percent did not have school-age children living with them, and, in general, Democrats supported the levy more than Republicans.

After about a half-hour of discussion, the board took no formal action on the matter, but decided to wait until it meets with school administrators before proceeding with the levy.

Because of flat enrollment, rising costs and insufficient state funding, Bethel had to close a $2.6 million budget gap this year.

In June, the school board settled on a $37.5 million annual operating budget that cut $2.5 million worth of services, including supply budgets, nine teaching positions and one administrative position.

Board members expressed optimism that voters would support a measure.

"The survey results show if we go out for $100, we have a pretty good chance of passing it," board member Greg Nelson said.

"Personally I think that we could probably get more. I don't know how much chance we want to take. I don't think we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot if we went for $115. I don't want us to undersell ourselves out of being overly conservative."

At a rate of $100 per $100,000 of assessed property value, the district would receive about $1.3 million per year, documents presented to the board showed.

Board member Sherry Cunningham agreed with Nelson about not wanting to undersell the district, adding that in the past when the board has asked for money, community support has been strong.

"The reputation that our school district has is very high," she said. "I can see them coming out and supporting kids."

The board is still to decide whether to put the measure on the May primary ballot, which would require 50 percent voter turnout and 50 percent of those voters supporting the measure, McGillivray pointed out. If the district waited for the November general election, a simple majority would secure funding.

"We're well ahead of the game here. We're under no time crunch," McGillivray said.

The discussion will continue at a Sept. 13 work session. To see the survey results, visit www.bethel.k12.or.us, click on "School Board" in the left-hand column and follow the "Board Packets" link.