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Issue 2: Lakewood City School District Tax Levy (Additional)

ISSUE 2 ON MAY 5 PRIMAY ELECTION BALLOTA majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.An additional tax for the benefit of the Lakewood City School District for the purpose of current expenses that the County Fiscal Officer estimates will collect $12,328,420 annually, at a rate not exceeding 6.9 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $242 for each $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer’s market value, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027. The County Fiscal Officer has certified that the amount by which the carry-over balance in the district’s general operating budget from the preceding fiscal year exceeds the district’s general fund expenditures made in the preceding fiscal year is $0, which is 0% of those expenditures.Propuesta para Recaudación de Impuestos (Adicional)Distrito Escolar de la Ciudad de LakewoodSe requiere un voto afirmativo por mayoría para su aprobación.Un impuesto adicional que beneficiará al Distrito Escolar de la Ciudad de Lakewood con el fin de cubrir los gastos actuales que el Funcionario Fiscal del Condado estima recaudará $12,328,420 anualmente, a una tasa que no exceda los 6.9 milésimos por cada $1 de valoración tributaria, lo cual representa $242 por cada $100,000 del valor de mercado atribuido por el Funcionario Fiscal del Condado, por un período continuo de tiempo, comenzando en el 2026, con su primer vencimiento en el año calendario del 2027. El Funcionario Fiscal del Condado ha certificado que el monto en que el saldo acumulado en el presupuesto general de funcionamiento del distrito proveniente del ejercicio fiscal anterior excede los gastos realizados con cargo al fondo general del distrito durante ese mismo ejercicio fiscal anterior es de $0, lo que equivale al 0 % de dichos gastos.

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    Yes - For the Measure

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    No - Against the Measure

The website includes links to explanations of the need for the levy. Property owners would be interested, in particular, to this clarification:

"Because of expiring debts coming off the District’s financial books, the millage levied on taxpayers would be 4.9 mills instead of the 6.9 mills voters will see on the ballot. This is because the District cannot change rates among its revenue sources – the law instead requires voters to approve a separate tax."
The District has explained that the levy would cost about $14 more per month per $100,000 of property valuation. If voters approve the levy, the district will begin collecting taxes on it in 2027.

Opposition to the 6.9-mill operating levy centers on concerns regarding tax affordability for residents on fixed incomes, distrust in the board’s fiscal management, and disapproval of school closure decisions. Opponents argue the district has not managed existing funds properly, objecting to increased taxes while feeling that services are being reduced, particularly after the repurposing of schools.

The opposition has a Facebook page explaining its position:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Lakewood%20school%20levy