Former Washington state Sen. Tim Sheldon’s commentary, published by The Chronicle on Sept. 5, defended congressional candidate state Sen. John Braun from Congresswoman Marie Glusenkamp Perez’s TV ads on taxes, but Sheldon ignored Braun’s tax blunders when slashing school levy equalization and ending equal state salary funding for teachers.
Neither the Gluesenkamp Perez or Braun campaigns cover Braun’s vote on these issues.
As chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee in 2017 (when Republicans controlled the Senate), Braun approved these changes.
Braun had the power to change or stop any budget provision he didn’t like. I spoke with Braun at length at his business with a Republican senator from east of Lake Washington. I was assured there would be no changes in levy equalization or teacher salary funding in the 2017 state budget.
What happened, instead, were major changes.
According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), before the changes were adopted, Centralia School District received $2,793,677 in school levy equalization in 2018. For the 2025-26 school year, Centralia received only $73,224, a $2.7 million cut. Chehalis received $1,812,872 in 2018, but in 2025-26 received only $104,186.
Winlock schools received $713,179 in 2018 in levy equalization; Adna received $391,375; Onalaska received $593,792; and Mossyrock received $271,054. All four districts received $0 for equalization in 2025-26. Toledo received $482,241 in 2018 but only $48,012 in 2025-26.
Braun’s Ways and Means Committee also ended equal state teacher salary funding. Braun, instead, supported providing the richest districts 18% more than any Lewis County school district now gets for teacher salaries.
Rural taxpayers pay the same state tax rates, but 18% more in state money is given to the richest schools for teachers’ salaries.
Levy equalization was designed to provide tax relief to property poor school districts that otherwise needed local levy tax rates three, four and often 10 times the tax rates of the richest districts to receive the same per student dollars from a levy. Equalization provided a state match in place of a portion of local taxes, making per-student levy funding and local tax rates to receive them more comparable.
Equal state salary funding provided the same state dollars for teaching jobs across the state. Richer districts complained higher costs of living made it more difficult for them to attract and retain teachers, but University of Washington research shows, instead, urban districts had the least teacher attrition and rural schools the greatest. Research shows teachers tend to leave rural areas for richer districts, not for more pay, but for more resources to help them be successful in the classroom: more counselors, assistants, administrators, supplies and newer curriculum.
The change in salary funding made it even more difficult for rural schools to attract and retain teachers.
I chaired the Committee for Levy Equalization, which passed equalization in 1987 with major Democratic support. But King County Democrats soured on equalization, and I fought against Democratic governors and legislators seeking to cut it. Senate Republicans defended it, including Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, Scott Barr and Jim Honeyford.
When Gov. Christine Gregoire cut equalization by $60 million, House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt ran a classic filibuster until Gregoire returned the $60 million.
Sheldon claims the 2017 state budget lowered local school levy dependence. Not true. Braun caved to King County Democrats and Bellevue Republicans, gutted equalization’s tax relief, and ended equal state funding for teachers.
Braun seriously hurt rural schools, leaving them the poorest and more dependent on local levies.
I understood from Braun levy equalization and equal salary funding would not change.
I was wrong believing him. He didn’t protect rural interests in education, and I can’t believe he’ll protect our interests in health care, Medicaid, law enforcement and small business in Congress now.
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Neal Kirby is a former state representative, principal and member of the Centralia School Board.
