In the district’s own words
“It pretty much helps us fund everything.”
Shannon Johnston, CVSD finance officer, at a public board meeting. Source: Spokesman-Review
That’s true in one sense: levy dollars go into the same General Fund as everything else. But the district has also said where a large share goes.
The compensation gap
By the district’s figures, levy dollars cover teacher compensation above the state funding model: $24,940 per full-time teacher, across 724.5 FTE teachers in 2023-24. The district puts the total at $18,069,030, “paid by local levy dollars.” Source: CVSD Budget page.
“It helps us fill the gap between what the state funds for salaries versus what we have to pay our staff to be competitive within this market.”
Shannon Johnston, CVSD executive financial officer. Source: Spokesman-Review, Sept. 4, 2026
Staff salaries and benefits total $231,196,941 in 2025-26, or 85.1% of expenditures. Source: CVSD Budget page.
We are not against good teachers being paid well. The question on the ballot is whether the district should get the maximum legal rate to keep paying above the state model, with no plan attached for rebuilding reserves or fixing the problems the State Auditor found.
Board members raised the same concern
“I do not support continuing to raise taxes on our community.”
Anniece Barker, CVSD board member, at a public board meeting. Source: Spokesman-Review
Barker also described teacher pay as “above average for what other Central Valley residents make.” Source: Spokesman-Review.
What else the levy funds
The levy also pays for 100% of athletics, performing arts and extracurricular activities, about $5.8 million a year. We say that plainly, because it’s true, and because the district chooses how to rank those programs against everything else in a $277.3 million budget. Source: CVSD Levy FAQ.
The state’s Local Effort Assistance match, which supplements levy dollars, fell from $6.8 million (2020-21) to $1.4 million (2023-24). Source: CVSD.