The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Voters in the Naselle/Grays River Valley School District this week received ballots for a special school levy election.

The district board of directors has asked voters to renew a three-year special levy to help the district pay maintenance and operation costs not covered by state or federal funding.

The levy would raise $695,000 for 2013, 2014 and 2015. The assessment, as stated on the ballot, would be $3.24 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

According to the district's website, the levy rate has fluctuated since the board voted in December to request the levy.

The levy rate depends on property assessments.

The rate had increased to $3.40 per $1,000 in 2010 because of a decline in property values.

According to information on the district website, property values in Pacific County remained flat, and timberland increased slightly.

However, in Wahkiakum County precincts, timber and property values increased by $2 million, so the levy rate decreased slightly as the district had set the collection at $695,000, the same as the previous special levy.

Ballots were mailed last week. They must be returned to Pacific or Wahkiakum county auditor offices by February 14 or postmarked by February 14 to be counted.