Meeting set for school funding option

Local organizers are gearing up to campaign for "Local Option," a supplemental funding measure to raise money for Sisters schools.

Last July the school board passed a resolution to put the measure on the November ballot. A support committee that includes Brian Witt of Sisters, chair, and Chris Jones and Glen Lasken of the school board, has been formed. The committee is filing for status as a political action committee.

According to Elaine Drakulich, Superintendent of Schools, there will be an organizational meeting open to the public on Monday, August 25 at the FivePine Conference Center from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

A draft statement of the ballot measure states that the local option tax is set at 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value beginning July 1, 2009. An owner of property worth $300,000 wold pay $225 in additional taxes.

If successful, the levy will raise $1,179,811 in the 2009-10 school year, increasing to $1,365,788 in the 2012-13 school year. The rate of 75 cents per thousand would not change, according to the draft ballot measure.

The money will provide revenue for the operating budget of the school district. The current local option has been in place since July 1, 2001. Local option provides about 10 percent of the general fund money for schools.