By Brenda Starkey
Chronicle staff

     OROVILLE - School district voters will be asked Feb. 9 to decide on a $1.49 million maintenance and operations levy request.
     The 2011-2012 levy would replace a two-year levy approved in 2008 for collection in 2009 and 2010.
     The two-year format allows for better long-range planning and use of staff time, reduces election costs and allows the property owner to know tax amounts for two years, according to a levy brochure.
     District officials estimate the levy rate at $2.31 per $1,000 of assessed property value, an increase of 9 cents per $1,000 over the current levy's advertised rate of $2.22. For the owner of property valued at $100,000, the tax would be $231 per year.
     Levy money would support building maintenance and utilities, technology, co-curricular activities, two classified (non-teaching) staff positions, bus transportation beyond state reimbursement levels, textbooks and other curriculum supplies, summer school, advanced placement classes, library books, high school academic contests, dropout prevention programs, the music program, and lunch and breakfast program beyond state reimbursement.
     The district made the final payment on the high school building in December, so voters will see a decrease of about 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value this year.
     The district lost nearly $400,000 in state levy equalization money in 2009 because of increased assessed valuation, the brochure said.
     Additionally, federal stimulus funding will run out in 2011, according to the brochure.
     The district is faced with replacing kindergarten through 12th grade science textbooks and fourth through 12th grade language arts, social studies and vocational textbooks, all of which are between 15 and 20 years old. That money must come from the levy, the brochure said.