School levies test state's limit

School levies to go before voters in Colton and Oakesdale in two weeks are against the law.

Last February, the Colton school board approved a levy for 2019 at $3.08 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. In June, the Washington state legislature made a rule to cap the limit at $1.50 per thousand.

“We’re in a really unique spot,” said Paul Clark, who was named Colton Superintendent last July.

The district has since dropped its asking rate for its 2020 levy to $2.50 per thousand, which also is not allowed unless the legislature makes changes again.

“It looks like they will change it,”...