A “Vote Yes!” flyer supporting the school district levy was distributed with the Deer Park City’s Water & Sewer bill at the beginning of October.
A state investigation is officially underway into the City of Deer Park for the alleged illegal use of taxpayer resources to promote a $14.6 million school levy. At the center of the probe is a potential conflict of interest, as the School District’s plans to purchase city-owned land in the near future hinge on the levy’s passage.
The City of Deer Park included a two-sided, full-color promotional flyer in its official water utility bill mailing sent to property owners within the city limits, which immediately raised serious concerns. The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) enforces strict regulations concerning political flyers and the potential for public funds to be used to support a political agenda. Laws that the Deer Park Gazette had to research for a previous article, and is very familiar with.
While the flyer included in the billing clearly indicated it was “Paid for by the Committee to Support Deer Park Schools,” there was no indication whether the City of Deer Park was endorsing the Levy by including the flyer in the mailing. It was also not clear if the Committee paid for postage, city staff time, and other associated costs.
While the Deer Park Gazette staff possesses a general familiarity with campaign finance regulations, we recognize the necessity of a thorough, independent investigation into the flyer and its endorsement. The Deer Park Gazette, as part of our research, first contacted the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) on October 2nd seeking clarification on the legality of the mailing. In an official response, the PDC stated it was “unable to comment on the potential validity of a complaint that has not been submitted” and directed us to file a formal complaint as the necessary step to determine if a violation had occurred.
Following that guidance, Richard Schut, one of the owners of the Deer Park Gazette, filed a formal complaint with the PDC, which was necessary to get a definitive ruling. The Deer Park Gazette determined the complaint with PDC was necessary in our investigation to assess potential issues of city misconduct. The Public Disclosure Commission has confirmed it is investigating the matter under Case #180058, though no findings have yet been released.
At issue is that by distributing the flyer, the City of Deer Park may have violated a state law prohibiting the use of public resources to promote a ballot proposition. The flyer, paid for by the “Committee to Support Deer Park Schools,” explicitly encourages residents to “VOTE YES!” on the $14.6 million levy. The promotional flyer was included in the official mailing without any disclaimer or statement clarifying whether its inclusion constituted an endorsement by the city. Using the city’s mailing system, staff time, mailing list, and resources for the pro-levy campaign is likely prohibited.
When contacted for comment, Deer Park School District Superintendent Alexa Allman deferred questions about the pro-levy committee to its spokesperson, Caleb Krantz. Speaking on behalf of the committee, when asked if they had researched the laws prohibiting the mailing, Krantz said, “No because we asked the city. They said yes and that was the end of it.”
Both Allman and Krantz stated that the arrangements were made verbally with Mayor Tim Verzal. When reached for comment, Mayor Tim Verzal responded via email, stating, “Under advisement of the City Attorney, I have no comment.”
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Krantz emphasized the importance of the levy. “I hope that the community will support the levy,” Krantz stated in an interview. “Because it’s definitely something that will help support our kids.”
City owned land to be purchased by the School District, outlined in red, if the levy is approved by voters. Photo Courtesy: Deer Park School District.
Central to the complaint is a potential conflict of interest involving a land deal between the city and the school district, which is contingent on the levy’s passage. The flyer itself allocates $5 million to “Buy Land” and “Build Road.” Public records confirm this deal involves four city-owned parcels: 28013.0028, 28013.0029, 28014.0036, and 28013.0086. The latter, located at 801 S. Webber Ave., would be subdivided as part of the deal. According to Spokane County records, the four parcels have a total value of $959,030. The plan, outlined on the school district’s website, is to purchase this land from the city to build a new, modern transportation facility to replace a 90-year-old building. The district’s website also indicates the land would be used to build a new elementary school, which would require another levy in the future.
Sources:
- Deer Park Utility Bill Received October 2nd, 2025
- Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns—Prohibition—Exceptions. RCW 42.17A.555 DPGazette.com/dr0gr Accessed October 18th 2025
- City of Deer Park: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.555 for use of public facilities or resources for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot measure (EY25 OCT25) DPGazette.com/eprjp Accessed October 18th, 2025
- Short-Term Capital Levy – November 4, 2025 https://www.dpsd.org/page/levy2025 Accessed October 18th, 2025
- City of Deer Park City Council Packet For September 17th, 2025 DPGazette.com/xqzit Accessed October 18th 2025
- Phone Interview Alexa Allman October 13th 2025
- Phone Interview Caleb Krantz October 16th 2025
- Email from [email protected] October 14th 2025
- Spokane County Property Information https://cp.spokanecounty.org/scout/propertyinformation/ Accessed October 18th 2025
