School District 622 Levy Renewal Passes, Supporters 'Elated'

School district staff and supporters were, “positively elated,” said Superintendent Patty Phillips, to learn that a majority of District 622 voters supported renewing an $833 per-student operating levy for 10 more years.

“It takes a whole community to raise our children, and our community really stepped up to the plate,” Phillips said. “I know it’s really a tough economic environment and we’re definitely appreciative.”

The levy renewal won’t give the schools any extra money, but had the renewal failed this year and next year, it would have cut about 9 percent from the district’s annual operating budget.

Even though the levy won’t solve all of the district’s financial challenges, it will provide a level of stability, said Oakdale City Council member Paul Reinke, who was a chair for the Citizens for 622 advocacy group.

He reacted with, “excitement,” “gratitude,” and “optimism for the future,” he said, when he heard the results. Reinke said he’s thankful for the leadership of Superintendent Patty Phillips and the school board, the volunteers who supported the effort to get others to vote “yes,” and the community as a whole.

Although the levy renewal should have a relatively neutral effect on property taxes, Reinke said he’s optimistic that Oakdale homeowners’ taxes still might go down since Washington County, District 622 and Oakdale city budgets are tightening.

Although the levy’s passage won’t raise taxes, it’s possible taxes could have gone down had it failed this year and next. The district estimated that for next year, the cost of the levy is about $150 for every $100,000 in property value.

Levy renewal opponent Peter Wetzels said his Oakdale home’s value is about the same as it was when he purchased it 12 years ago, but his property taxes have increased by about $1,000.

He said he would have liked to see district residents recoup the money for personal uses, such as paying down debt or taking a family vacation.

But, he conceded, “It’s America, and the majority wins, and in this case the yeah-sayers have won.”