SPOKANE, Wash. — A sample ballot circulated by the Spokane County Republican Party encourages a no vote on multiple major school funding levies appearing on ballots this year.
In a statement circulated on Feb. 9, the party asserted that no increases in funding to the Spokane, Central Valley or Mead school systems should be approved by voters this year. In a statement on their website, the party argued that increases to school budgets do not increase student performance.
“Year over year school budgets are increasing while performance is decreasing and it [is] very clear, more money isn’t having a positive impact on school performance,” the Spokane County Republicans said.
Citizens for Spokane Schools argued that the levies are critical to maintaining and enhancing quality education.
“The February 2024 replacement levy is being planned to maintain essential services and positions to serve students, including nurses, counselors, reasonable class sizes, extracurricular activities and more,” the organization said.
The Feb. 13 special election ballots must be dropped in a ballot box by 8pm on election day.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article said the Spokane County Republican Party suggested no votes for every school funding levy on ballots this year. The Republican Party actually recommended a no vote on levies and bonds in Spokane, Mead and Central Valley. The party did not recommend a yes vote for any levies.
