SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND

Citizens of Seattle will vote on two school levies: Proposition 1 is the six-year $270 million Capital Levy, and Proposition 2 is the three-year $442.7 million Operations Levy.  Together, the levies will cost $1.99 to $2.05 per thousand of assessed property value.  For a median-priced home valued at $400,000, a homeowner would pay $820 to $830 per year in school property taxes in 2011-2013.  Thanks to the new Simple Majority law passed in 2007, these levies only require a 50% plus one majority vote in this election, with no further restrictions. 

The BTA capital levy (Proposition 1) is a Building, Technology, and Academics Levy continuing from levies approved by Seattle voters in 1998 and again in 2004.  According to the School Board, the existing levy program is due to be completed in 2010 on time and within budget.  The proposed 2011 levy will renew capital project programs with a list of needs from around the district (see below).   This is in addition to the other major District capital levy, Building Excellence, which provides for new construction, renovations and additions at school buildings and was authorized in 2007 for six years. 

The capital levy (Proposition 1) includes hundreds of individual projects in three major components: buildings, technology and academics. 

• The buildings component ($140.5 million) includes preventive maintenance and painting, roof replacement, fire suppression, exterior renovations, seismic reinforcement, ventilation systems,  security systems, energy efficiency and green projects, electrical systems, and waterline replacement;

• The technology component ($34.9 million) includes enhanced technology-based tools for students and teachers, upgrades to school-based and district-wide technology systems, and replacement and enhancement of technology infrastructure at the schools and central office; and

• The academics component ($94.6 million) includes student assessment systems, special education improvements, CORE 24 graduation requirements, early learning classrooms, creation of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school, re-opening five school in the district (McDonald, Old Hay, Rainier View, Sand Point, Viewlands), athletic fields, program placement, and a skills center.

The operating levy (Proposition 2) supports basic educational services including teachers and instructional assistants, full-day kindergarten, a six-period day at high schools, bilingual and special education services, textbooks and classroom supplies, buses, and other student activities such as athletics, drama and music.  The levy accounts for 23.5% of the Seattle School District’s annual budget. 

Of note, seniors or disabled citizens with an annual income of $30,000 or less may qualify for exemption for all or part of these levies.
 
ARGUMENTS FOR PROPOSITIONS 1 & 2

The following arguments were put forth by the proponents of the measure:

• The operating levy (Proposition 2) represents 23.5% of the Seattle School District’s annual general fund budget and supports basic educational programs that are not fully funded by the state.

• Every school in the District receives funding from the operating levy according to the regular allocation formulas.

• The levies replace existing voter-approved levies and will not increase tax rates. 

• Technology tools are essential systems in education and management today.  Initial investments as well continuing upgrades are needed to meet the District’s technology master plan. 

• Seattle schools serve nearly 46,000 students, of whom 40% receive free and reduced price lunches, 12.5% receive special education services and 12% of students qualify for English as a Second Language services.  This diverse population of students presents special challenges concerning the costs of schooling and requires the support of the city’s citizens.

• The community has an economic interest in ensuring the strength and quality of our schools, to support the trend toward an ever more highly-skilled workforce. 

• Property owners have a healthy self-interest in investment in community infrastructure and quality neighborhood schools and should support the school levies.

• The School District has demonstrated sound financial management and accountability recently and thus the taxpayers should authorize this continued funding.

• There is a need to open new elementary schools as Seattle’s school age population is growing and neighborhood demographics are changing. Also, new policies are limiting transportation of students.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST PROPOSITIONS 1 & 2

The Ballot Issues Committee was unable to identify any organized opposition to the school levies, but developed the following potential arguments against the levies:

• The Washington State Constitution states that education is the “paramount duty” of the state government and should be paid for out of the state’s general fund, not a local levy.

• During the current economic recession and taxpayer revolt against tax increases, the capital levy is an expensive program that may not be warranted. 

• Voters may feel that $820 to $830 per year for a home valued at $400,000 is simply too much for the return.  The district, like other government entities, should cut budgets in these tough economic times.

• The school district has recently been through the arduous task of closing multiple elementary schools but now finds the need to reopen schools with the various capital costs involved.

Recommendation and Rationale

The Trustees of the Municipal League endorse both school levies, Proposition 1 and Proposition 2.

Voters haven’t rejected an operations levy in Seattle since 1975, which led to layoffs and funding issues at the District. (An operations levy did fail in 1996 but was overwhelmingly passed six weeks later.)  The League has consistently supported school levies over the years as there are major gaps in state funding for education that must be filled through local levies. 

In recent years, the Seattle School District has demonstrated accountability and a sincere effort to change the way it has managed its finances in response to the community needs.  The school levies are an integral part of the ongoing operating and capital budgets of the District.  Without them, our schools would lose 23.5% of their general fund and much of their ability to maintain safe, modern and well-maintained school buildings.  The levies replace existing voter-approved levies and do not represent an increase in tax rates.