Redmond City Council approves budget - raises property and utility taxes

The City Council approved the Administration's 2013-2014 budget 5-2 with Hank Myers and David Carson voting 'no" to the ordinance.    Property taxes will go up $6/year and water/stormwater will increase 2%/4% per the biennium.   Under a separate ordinance the council raised nonunion salaries 1.5%/year. 

Councilmember Hank Myers called out the 1% tax increase as "entirely unnecessary since we have a $10 million ending balance and the 1% amounts to less than 5% of our ending balance."   He referenced three different contingency reserves, and said no services would have to be cut if the tax stays the same.  He said the price of Redmond government was higher compared to Issaquah, Kirkland, and Woodinville.  Like all councilmembers, he lauded the Administration on a job well done in preparing a transparent budget and thanked the Mayor and Council Finance Chair John Stilin for their leadership.

Councilmember David Carson said he could have said Yes to the entire package if more than 40% of the capital fund ending balance could have gone to capital improvements.  He was most concerned about the 1% property tax saying, "If we had applied a small portion of the $10 million surplus it could have kept the City of Redmond residents from paying the tax increase."  He supported the Utility Tax increase saying it was specific to infrastructure. 

Council Chair of Finance John Stilin considered Redmond the envy of the region with it's well run finances and city administration.  He emphasized "being responsible in asking for a little bit more."  He said, "it would be nice if there were other ways to tax and spread this out but the 1% tax is our one tool we have."   "I look forward to digging deeper in the performance review process and having better performance measures such that in the off years of he budget we actually do a performance review of our budget." 

Councilmembers Tom Flynn and Hank Margeson were worried about a revenue/expenditure gap looming 4-6 years out.  Margeson said, "the 1% tax increase won't track that down but by being smart about what we spend going forward we will bridge the gap."  Flynn was glad to see some cuts and right-sizing to the budget and thought the 1% a small part in keeping up with inflation. 

Councilmember Kim Allen voted for the 1% this year because the economy is improving.  "It's good to see the cranes downtown", she said "and the tax increase is only $6/year."   She and Hank Margeson were glad to see the 166th Avenue safety reconfiguration in the books for this biennium.  Council President Pat Vache' agreed with Ms. Allen on the importance of the steady revenue flows in the maintaining the city's AAA rating.  Vache' also mentioned the gap projected in future years.

Mayor John Marchione thanked Council and his staff and advised Myers "The price of government index" is not a valid comparison tool to other cities.  The mayor was proud to claim the price of Redmond government (government expenses/% of income) is the lowest it's been in 12 years.  It went from 6% to 4.9% today.  He concluded the AAA rating saves the city millions of dollars.

By Bob Yoder

City to hold public hearings on the Budget

The City will hold will hold several study sessions beginning in October and running through November to discuss the budget. The public is welcome to offer its comments during two public budget hearings scheduled for October 16th and November 20  at 7:30pm in Council Chambers located at 15670 NE 85^th Street, Redmond, 98073.

 

At the recent town meeting in city hall on downtown projects, Councilman John Stilin when asked indicated a need for the 1% property tax increase owing to "our roads."  Stilin is Chair of the Public Administration and Finance Committee. 

 

For more information after October 9th and to learn more about the Budget Sessions or to view a copy of the Mayor’s budget visits: www.redmond.gov/bp.

To ask for your own copy of the 2012 Draft City budget, contact Mike Bailey, Finance Director at 425-556-2160 (mebailey@redmond.gov) or Malisa Files, Deputy Finance Director at 425-556-2166 (mfiles@redmond.gov).

Learn "Hands On CPR" in this one minute video - or sign up for an Evergreen Health program

      AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Official 2012 Hands Only CPR Video Guide (1min)

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation has come a long way with the new AHA approved compression method called "Hands Only CPR".  View the one minute clip to see how simple and effective it is.  Or watch this engaging two minute interactive AHA clip here. 

Evergreen Health Hospital teaches the program to adults and children from various locations, but I haven't seen their program in Redmond yet, have you?   Of 400,000 citizens in the hospital district, "1,986 residents took the Hands Only CPR program last year, according to Kay Taylor, Director of Marketing, Evergreen Health.   About 1/5 of the participants are adults and were charged $40 each for materials. 

Under commissioner oversight, it's free for the rest thanks to levy funding.  They are considering expanding the program since so few in our community know about this simple and easy life-saving CPR technique and some have asked for it.   If you want to sign up for the hospital program or see Evergreen run it in your city try 425-899-3000 or visit the Evergreen Health website.   The commissioners and administration may decide to expand the program in some way with your input (and your tax dollars).  Do you think they should?   The City of Redmond teaches the technique in their C.E.R.T. program and new RedmondReady program (redmondready.org).  

King County Public Hospital District No. 2, registered with the State and Seattle Times for public noticing as "Evergreen Healthcare," was established in 1972 to serve citizens in north King and south Snohomish counties. Registered voters (155,154) elect 5 Commissioners to oversee the 2012, $15,285,968 annual levy and $9,242,180 capital bond.   Serving more than 400,000 citizens every year, the District operates a 290-bed hospital and a network of primary and urgent care centers. Evergreen Healthcare district boundaries include Bothell, Duvall, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, part of Sammamish and parts of unincorporated northeast King County.
 

Mayor Marchione and staff participate in new city Wellness Program

From left, Erin Saunderson, Emma Calvert, Jessica Tramp, Redmond Mayor John Marchione, Andrew Sundene, Julie Tramp and Christoph Myer visit with the mayor Tuesday afternoon. Marchione signed a proclamation to make November to be National Diabetes Month in Redmond. All of the teens were diagnosed with diabetes — most since before they turned 7. In addition, Marchione, 45, was diagnosed at age 38
Bill Christianson, Redmond Reporter, (Republished from 2010)

 In their August 21, 2012 meeting City Council approved the Mayor's new Health and Wellness Program with Additional Benefits.  Start-up costs will be $78,625 in 2012 and $71,625/year (based on 60% participation.)  The program will provide individual coaching, and other educational resources and tools to assist managing health risk factors of staff. 

Marchione expects to get full return on investment through good participation by staff.  Participation is the key to the program.  In house events and marketing literature will be introduced to city staff to encourage participation.  The program will address risk factors like nutrition, stress management and obesity.  City staff will be given incentives (undisclosed) to participate and improve. 

Mayor Marchione (age 47) was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II at age 38 and is in a good position to lead staff as a role model of participation.   Could we see the Mayor walking our sidewalks or swimming in Hartman Pool?  Will he declare November as "National Diabetes Month" as he did in 2010. 

The City of Redmond remains one of the best employers to work for in our area with 2009 wages and benefits averaging $108,000/employee and turnover very low.  Average pay per household in Redmond over the last three years is $92,164 according to recent City finance "Dashboard" data.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Photo by Redmond Reporter

Redmond stats show fewer: burglaries, car prowls in 2011

Redmond Police Chief Ron Gibson

Redmond stats show fewer property crimes in 2011

It goes without saying "crime sells" in the media business.  We see it almost every day in the local news-casts and almost everyday on the smart-phone news aggregators, like MY Northwest.com/Redmond.  Based on crime news frequency alone, you might think Redmond's safety budget was stretched thin to keep up with demand for safety support services.  Not necessarily so.  Case in point ...

Police Chief Ron Gibson's Department announced  some great news on June 8, that "The Redmond Police Department's 2011 statistics reflect similarity to what law enforcement agencies are seeing nationwide - crime is down."   Isn't that great news!   Here's a quick run-down of a few of the most reported crimes:

Police spokesperson Jim Bove writes Redmond's highest incident property crime - Vehicle prowls - is down once again from 684 in 2010 to 554 in 2011.  Burglaries declined from 198 in 2010 to 157 in 2012.  That's a 20% and 11% drop retrospectively year over year.   According to Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC) 2011 data, Identity Theft (including Credit/ATM fraud) is down 41% in 2011 from 202 incidences in 2010 to 120 incidences this year.  Whew!  Even with our growing mobility apparatus, Motor Vehicle Thefts are down 17% from 2010.  Read what crimes are going up >>

School Board approves interim construction financing for STEM, Redmond and Eastlake High Schools

Aerial update of STEM Project Site (April, 2012)

UPDATED:  The School board meeting this Monday was better attended by bond salesmen than citizens, as the board held a Hearing to approve two capital bond transactions, keeping STEM, Redmond High, and Eastlake High construction at running at full throttle.

One of the transactions, a $34 million LGO Bond sale, raised cash to cover short-term construction needs until the voter-approved "2012-2017 $65 million Capital Levy" dollars can catch up. The second board action raised $25 million from an aging  "2006 Eight-Year $436 million Capital Bond."  According to Barb Posthumus, district Business Services Manager,  a balance of $11 million remains of the original $436 million Bond.  

LGO's are "Limited Government Obligation" bonds and are non-voter approved.  Read More >>

My experience and opinion of Redmond's "Neighborhood Budgeting Forum," By Paige Norman

Paige Norman

My experience and opinion of the City's  "Budgeting by Priorities"   Neighborhood Forum for Education Hill residents.

By Paige Norman
Education Hill Neighborhood

Irritated with the way our City government is run? Do you like the services and benefits our city has to offer? Let our City know!

On March 2, I attended one of the city’s “Budget By Priorities” neighborhood meetings held at Redmond City Hall, in the Bytes Café. Here’s how it works and what I think about it:  Read More >>

Ross Hunter proposes billion dollar levy changes to K-12 funding

K-12 Funding Proposal – Local Levy Swap

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Ross Hunter

"I’m stepping outside my role as Ways and Means chairman to put out a personal proposal for comment. The idea described below is a big one, moving around about a billion dollars in property taxes that are used for the support of public schools."  Read More >>

###

Excerpts from Ross's proposal: 

• "would no longer need “levy equalization”;  hundreds of millions that we use to correct for the fact that some districts don’t have the property base to collect similar amounts of levies. These districts will be better served by increased state funding and less reliance on levies."

• "we should make local school levies more reliable, since they are likely to be a significant part of school funding well into the future. Instead of voting to renew levies every 4 years we should amend the constitution to allow voters to approve levies that would stay in place until the district wants to increase them." 

Comments?  Comment here or on Ross's blog. 

Evergreen Hospital Board approves 2012 Budget; refunds taxpayers $476,799.

Evergreen Hospital Commissioners
at 2010 Redmond ER Medical Center plaza ground-breaking

UPDATED:  The Evergreen Hospital District #2, Board of Commissioners approved the 2012 budget and levies during a Special Public Meeting and Hearing on 7:00AM, November 11, 2011.  Superintendent Bob Malte submitted the budget for approval.  As a citizen-journalist, I attended and spoke at the Hearing. 

READ MORE about the tax increase and capital bond refund to taxpayers >>

Op-Ed: "Next Steps on Traffic and School Safety Cameras," By Cole and Marchione

Next Steps on Traffic & School Safety Cameras

Redmond Council President Richard Cole & Mayor John Marchione

September 2011 

Pres. Richard Cole

 Op-Ed:  As many residents are aware, Redmond established a pilot traffic and school zone safety program earlier this year. The goals of this program are simple: (1) modify dangerous driver behavior and (2) prevent car-pedestrian accidents in school zones. 

Traffic safety has long been one of our community’s top concerns, and this program promised to be an effective use of technology to affect behavior, reduce the cost of enforcement and improve traffic safety. Much like the shoplifting cameras we see in so many grocery and retail stores, the cameras collect evidence of possible violations. This evidence is then reviewed by an officer to determine if an actual violation occurred. Then and only then is a ticket issued.



Mayor John Marchione

The violation does not go on one’s driving record, and the City Council has mandated that any funds remaining after court costs be dedicated to capital projects that improve traffic and pedestrian safety. By using technology in this way, the City could otherwise put its limited number of police officers to work in schools, in neighborhoods, and around town to address other public safety issues that are important to Redmond’s citizens. From the beginning, the Council and the Mayor committed to review this pilot program after a year.

We have appreciated the many residents we have heard from on both sides of the issue over two years of public process, from emails to conversations at National Night Out events in August to public testimony at Council meetings. Consistent with what we have told residents all along, next month we will review all the data and community input gathered to date to determine the future of the program.

The recent initiative petition will be another important consideration in this discussion, and represents the wishes of some who would like to vote on traffic/school safety cameras in February 2012.

It is worthwhile to note that the petition circulated in Redmond is virtually identical to one in the City of Bellingham that was recently invalidated by the Washington Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals noted in the Bellingham case that a petition to require a vote on traffic and school safety cameras “exceeds the lawful scope of the initiative power; it is not a valid ballot measure.”

Despite the court’s ruling on the petition’s validity, the Council and Mayor have heard the perspective of our residents who signed it, and will consider this along with all the data and other feedback we have received as part of our ongoing assessment.

Our evaluation will be completed by December, well before any referendum can be held. To discontinue this review at this time would be a disservice to our community, and an abdication of the City Council’s duty on an issue which the Court of Appeals has clearly affirmed is its responsibility. As we prepare for these discussions next month, we continue to welcome your thoughts at mayorcouncil@redmond.gov.

Op-Ed By Council President Richard Cole and Mayor John Marchione

September, 2011

"Save Your Bus Route!", By Richard Morris

King County Council member Jane Hague

3rd from the left

Save Your Bus Route!

LETTER:  If the Congestion Reduction Charge (temporary two-year $20 car tab fee) doesn't pass, several routes are scheduled to be eliminated or scheduled for service reductions and revisions.

Because of the recession, King County Metro's funding from sales tax has plummeted. Metro has already undertaken extreme efficiency measures to keep the buses running, but they are facing a 17% budget gap. Without the temporary $20 car tab fee, King County Metro will have to cut bus service by 17 percent!

This would mean 177 bus routes under King County Metro would be slashed, reduced, or even eliminated. 36% of commuters in King County currently use the bus.

We need transit to reduce commuter gridlock and protect the environment. People rely on King County Metro buses to get to work, school and the hospital. In fact, these cuts will disproportionately affect people of color, immigrants and our elders who make up a large percentage of transit-dependent riders throughout King County.

On August 15, six votes are needed by King County Council to pass an emergency ordinance to put the measure on the ballot or to approve the measure without requiring a public vote.

Please email Council member Jane Hague and urge her to vote YES on The Congestion Reduction Charge on August 15. jane.hague@kingcounty.gov  [and email Council member Kathy Lambert at:  kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov].

By Richard Morris

Redmond, WA.

Photo:  courtesy King County website

UPDATED: To maintain teachers salaries: Local levy dollars are used, LWSD 2012 calendar shuffled

Dr Chip Kimball

Local levy dollars used

Lake Washington School District 2011-12 school year extended

UPDATED:  Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s school year calendar for 2011-12 has been extended to 181 days from 180 and the last day of school moved from June 20 to June 22. May 25 will become a non-student day.

These changes result from an agreement with the Lake Washington Education Association (LWEA) to maintain current salaries, in spite of the state salary cuts, through the addition of two workdays.

The state legislature cut funding for teacher salaries by 1.9% in the recently completed session. Dr. Chip Kimball, superintendent, noted that teacher compensation affects retention and recruitment of good teachers, a priority that he shares with district parents.

“Teacher salaries, in real dollars adjusted for inflation, have been declining for 30 years,” noted Kevin Teeley, LWEA president. “Despite that fact, the legislature is asking teachers to take another cut in pay.”

Dr. Kimball proposed to the LWEA keeping teacher compensation at the same level as 2010-11, using local levy dollars to make up the difference. As part of the proposal, teachers would work two additional days, focusing the time on preparing for the district’s change to a new grade configuration in the fall of 2012. Teachers voted overwhelmingly to accept this change to their contract.   READ MORE >>

Eastside residents invited to March 12th town hall with Reps. Eddy, Hunter, Tom

Washington State Legislature
48th Legislative District
Sen. Rodney Tom, Rep. Ross Hunter and Rep. Deb Eddy

Eastside residents invited to March 12th town hall with local legislators

The 2011 legislative session is now halfway through. State Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Bellevue) and Reps. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) and Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) invite Eastside residents to a Town Hall on Saturday, March 12 for an update and discussion on the budget and other legislation of interest.

When: Saturday, March 12th at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Redmond City Hall (15670 NE 85th Street)

For more information, contact Representative Hunter’s Legislative Assistant Marilyn Pedersen at (360) 786-7936.

# # #

Contacts: Sen. Rodney Tom - (360) 786-7694 or rodney.tom@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Ross Hunter – (360) 786-7936 or ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Deb Eddy – (360) 786-7848 or deb.eddy@leg.wa.gov

LETTER: Government subsidies to the Saturday Market add value

LETTER:  I have to disagree [with Mr. Frazier's Letter on the Saturday Market]. The Saturday Market provides value to the community, making the donations from government an investment in that same community. The market brings people out of their personal spaces, and brings them together. It provides them inspiration. It's not just a temporary store, but a community center.

Retailers like Trader Joes don't look at the market as a competitor, but rather a draw (like a sale they don't have to pay for). When was the last time you bought everything you needed for a dinner at the Saturday Market? You don't. Instead, you find and purchase an inspiring ingredient, perhaps several. Then you go to Trader Joes, or QFC, or Whole Foods, and purchase everything else you need for the meal.

This sort of thing is exactly what government is there to accomplish. Provide what people and business can't, for the betterment of all.

Douglas Burchard

REPUBLISHED: Dr. Kimball unveils plan to cope with severe overcrowding in LW schools

Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball

 October 11, 2010 Regular Board Meeting (video)

REPUBLISHED from 10/11/2010 -  Jill, a mother of two with a daughter at Rockwell Elementary, testified to the School Board last night about "the horrors of overcrowding".  Jill was shocked when she learned the Rosa Parks Elementary population reached 700 this year and she fears it won't be long for Rockwell.  When she moved to the neighborhood 3.5 years ago Rockwell had 480 students.  Today it's 610, with new portables and few options for full-day Kindergarten.   

Based on Jill's testimony, the overcrowding problem in some elementary schools is real .  Data from the input sessions suggested that the District ask for money to deal with immediate overcrowding issues but "not over ask".  Superintendent Kimball and the Board agreed on the following proposal for the February, 2011 ballot.

• a $65.4 million, 6-year Levy to pay for new 250-student additions at Redmond High and Eastlake High AND to build nearby a 675 student "STEM" school for grades 6-12.   
• the Levy tax is 0.31/$1000 assessed property; or $155/year for a $500,000 house.  No financing or interest is applied. 
• the "STEM" school core curriculum  is "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math" with a goal to incubate best practices for other schools.   STEM will cost $25 million with solid modular construction.
• Juanita High will "not be modernized right now" saving $135 million.
• Kimball's levy measure will cost taxpayers $190 million less than last year's bond which failed by 4%. The Levy only needs and 50% simple majority to pass.  Last year's bond required a 60% majority.
• Levy benefits:  no HS over 2,000.  no meg-high schools.  no double shifts.  no portables.  no excessive busing.  permanent classrooms, core gyms and cafeterias. keep space for computers and music.    

President Jackie Pendergrass said the STEM school should draw some grant money from outside sources. She suggested Microsoft and the Lake Washington School Foundation  as sources.  Board member Shahani was concerned about Juanita High age, but said the STEM school is needed to solve the space problem.  He likes the STEM "Choice" school concept.  Board member Bernard was pleased with the 1000 person survey turnout, no portables, possible federal grants, and no double-shift nightmares. She emphasized the new ventilation system at Juanita and the wonderful staff.  Board member Carlson said he favors "all Choice all the time" and asked to double the size of the STEM school to eliminate the two additions.  Kimball said this wasn't feasible.  READ MORE >>

Results from three community input sessions and a website survey were reviewed by Superintendent Kimball and the Board.   Parent and community participants (58%) recommended the District ask for money to deal with immediate overcrowding issues but "not over ask".   69% of the parents said "no not right now" to spending $135 Million on modernizing Juanita High School.  Juanita High was built in l971.  70% did not want to eliminate classrooms for music and computers.  All-day kindergartens received the most support for solving overcrowding.  70% gave a thumbs down on portables.  68% said yes to two new elementary schools in the next five years.  74% agreed to permanent classroom additions at Redmond and Eastlake High.  The statistical validity or significance of the survey was not discussed.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Republished:  1/23/2011
Source:  10/11/2010, Regular Board Meeting archives
Photo of Dr. Kimball from LWSD website
http://lwsd.org/

LETTER: Plenty of extra space in existing Kirkland schools to house growing student population, By Paul Hall

LETTER:  The LWSD is running a levy in February to raise $65.4 million more than they need to house their growing student population. There is plenty of extra space in existing Kirkland schools to house this growth.

The district says it will consider using that space by rearranging attendance boundaries and bus schedules if the levy fails. They admit they already have enough money to provide more high school classrooms in Redmond and Sammamish. It’s unspent money we entrusted to them for modernizing 30 of our schools. So far they have torn down and replaced 21 of those schools instead of modernizing them. They intend to continue this practice for the remaining 8 schools. The district will consider using some of the unspent money to alleviate the housing shortage instead if the levy fails. The rest of the money would still be available for modernization of those 8 schools.

Re-published: State Budget Cuts Hit Lake Washington School District

Superintendant Chip Kimball

District has about $1.7 million less than planned
Re-published 12/14/2010 LWSD Press Release

Redmond, Wash. – The state legislature held a special session on Saturday, December 11th, to address the more than $1 billion state budget shortfall. Budget reductions approved in that session will cut state education funding to Lake Washington School District (LWSD) by an estimated $1.7 million in the middle of the school year.

The district’s financial approach has been very conservative over the past several years. Not only have cuts been made but long-term financial planning has resulted in reserves that can now help weather this storm. These efforts have resulted in reserves in excess of the five percent of general fund revenue required by the Board of Directors. Dr. Chip Kimball, superintendent, stated that the district will use these excess reserves to cover this unexpected mid-year reduction in state revenue.

OPINION: State Rep. Ross Hunter: "Answering Emails"



State Representative, 48th District
Elected chairman of the Ways & Means Committee

 I’m sitting at my desk in Olympia answering email, mostly about the budget. Lots of people are writing in about different subjects, but all have the same theme – protect MY program. This is pretty interesting and useful data, but it’s hard to make decisions based on it.

For example, I get a lot of mail about preserving “gifted education”. The state sends out tens of millions in this category every year, with an equal amount going to every district based on student population. State funding makes up about 15% of what is spent in this area every year, so 85% of the money is coming from local sources, mostly your local levies. The state budget line item is about $30 million per year, or about 0.3% of annual state school budgets. There are many other programs that distribute money the same way – evenly based on student count.

Ever think about why we don’t just combine all of these small items into one single pot?  Read More >>

Mayor's Vision Is To Ensure Redmond Becomes A Complete City

Letter from  the Mayor

"As the summer comes to a close and our thoughts turn to fall, here at the City we are preparing for our biennial budget review with the City Council. While economic times are tight, I am pleased to report that we have worked hard to manage our current budget within available resources. Looking ahead to the FY 11-12 budget, as your Mayor, I remain committed to delivering a budget which continues to focus on citizen service priorities in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible.

In October I submitted my second budget to the City Council for review and approval. I cannot help but to reflect upon the first budget and all that the City has accomplished in the past two years.  Read more...

READ MORE >>

Evergreen Hospital To Hold Public Hearing on $428 Million Budget November 12

Photography during Ev. Pub Commission Mtgs is prohibited 

UPDATED ON 11/10:  The 2011 Property Tax Levy is budgeted to increase $699,248 or ~ 5% this year to $15,303,191.  That's an increase of 18% over the 2010 levy increase*.  (Redmond's Evergreen Commissioner August Kempf  didn't respond to my request to meet for clarification on the budget.). 

How Levy Funds Are Allocated: 

Each program or service that requests levy funding must annually demonstrate the community need.  Proposals are evaluated based on the need, and whether the overall benefit to the community justifies the resources.

Evergreen's five publicly-elected Board of Commissioners have the final say on distribution of levy funds each year, based on the recommendations of a standing levy committee (and the public). They represent 155,152 District #2 voters in Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Sammamish, Duvall and Kenmore. 

While some levy-supported programs specifically address the special needs of the under-served, the chronically ill, the disabled and high-risk populations, the majority of the programs are for use by the entire community. For instance, if you phone into the Evergreen Healthline referral service or participate in certain health education classes, you have benefited directly from levy-supported services. 

Other health care education classes require insurance payments, a fee or expect a donation. Your levy dollars are not directly benefiting you here.  For example, the 20-hour "Fundamentals of Diabetes Class" costs $1750.00  or $85/hour.  Adult Bereavement donation is $30.00  Cost of four "Baby Care Class" fees total $180.00  Three "Healthy Pregnancy Class" fees total $200.00 Three "Family Maternity Classes total $90.00.  Seven "After Baby is Born classes total $276.00.  Cost of Three "Bringing Baby Home" Classes total $120.000. Your levy dollars are not directly benefiting you here. The total cost for all programs is:  $2646.00.  [Prices are taken from the newly revised 2010 Evergreen website.]
READ MORE >>