OKANOGAN – Ballots for the April 27, 2010 Tonasket Special Maintenance and Operation Levy Election went into the mail Thursday, April 8.

Those that have not received their ballot by Wednesday, April 14, are asked to contact the Okanogan County Auditors Office at (509) 422-7240.

“Remember your ballots must be signed,” said Mila Jury, an election official with the auditor’s office. “Ballots must be postmarked by the day of the election, April 27, 2010.”

The two-year special Maintenance and Operation Levy has been set at $974,801 and if passed will be collected at a rate of $2.22 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. It will provide $959 per student in the Tonasket School District. If Levy Equalization Act (LEA) funds come to the district through the legislature, the district will have approximately $1,464 per student. Based on the LEA funds the district received this past year, the anticipated LEA funds for next year are $512,337 but the school district will only receive these funds if they pass their levy.

“If the levy fails, we lose nearly $1.5 million and we’ll have to seriously look at cuts,” Paul Turner, Tonasket Superintendent of Schools said. “With the levy passing, we’re already looking at making cuts of $200,000 to $300,000.”

If the levy passes, the money will be used for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years. The funds will be spent on curriculum/technology, special programs and staffing, co-curricular and buildings and grounds. For the first and second year, if the levy passes and the LEA funds come in, a district pamphlet states approximately $515,482 will be spent on science and language arts curriculum improvement, computer purchases, extra staffing and curriculum materials and educational software under the category of curriculum/technology.

The auditor’s office is located at the Okanogan County Courthouse, 149 3rd Ave. N., Okanogan and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on election day only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the following services:

Dropping off voted ballots

Obtaining replacement ballots

Disability Access Voting Units

Those not currently registered in the State of Washington, can appear in person in the auditor’s office until April 19 and register to vote and be able to vote in the Special Election.

Those with questions are encouraged to contact the auditor’s office.