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UPDATED, 12/1/09 Last night Redmond Mayor Marchione asked Council if they wanted to endorse the LWSD Levy and Bond that's up for vote in a Special Election on February 9. Six councilmembers gave their support to endorse, saying our schools are vital to Redmond neighborhoods and contribute to the quality of life we enjoy in our City. Councilmember Kim Allen did not want to endorse the measure owing to impact fee issues. Kim is usually a strong advocate for the neighborhoods.The February 9 ballot will have *3 boxes to check: 1) Capital Projects Levy for Facilities and Technology (4-year), 2) Educational Programs and Operations Levy (4-year) and 3) Capital Facility Planning Bond. Last Monday, Superintendent Kimball gave his recommendations to the School Board, based on extensive in-person, PTSA Committee, and web input surveys and of course, Board conversation. The School Board will make the final decision. In my opinion, it's doubtful they would make any substantive changes. Dr. Chip Kimball was hired by the Board and unquestionably runs the show. He is likable and extremely capable and effective. I'm convinced governance could improve with more intra-Board deliberation and leadership.
Superintendent Kimball's Levy/Bond recommendations provide examples of the cost for a home in the District with an average assessed value of $505,000. Items 1,2,3 below may negligibly differ.
1) The Facilities and Technology Capital Projects Levies will be combined into one Levy for the Election. Thus, the total Capital Projects Levy is $83M over four years, or .55 cost / 1000 of assessed value or $278/house in 2011.
2) The Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&0) is $205.5M over four years, or 1.30/$1000 or $656/house in 2011 Years 2012, 13 and 14 will be adjusted for changes in assessed property values.
3) Capital Facilities Planning Bond is $234M over four years, or .33 / $1000 of assessed value or $166/house in 2011.
The TOTAL amount for the two levies and one bond up for vote is $2.18/1000 or $1101/house in 2011. The assessed value changes every year so years 2012, 13, 14 are projected roughly $20 - $30
higher per year.
Add in the existing voter approved Debt Service, and the two levies and bond issue, if passed, will total $1606 in 2011, $1636 in 2012, $1651 in 2013, and $1672 in 2014. School Taxes for the year 2010 have already been voter approved and are expected to be $1444/house for a house with an average assessed value of $505,000.
Thus, with passage of all levy/bond measures, the average local school tax per home is expected to increase $162 in 2011. 12/01 update: after a few tweaks by Kimball, the average tax/home is approximately $170 in 2011 and $294 over 4 years.
Good schools do everything to prepare our children for the future, build good neighborhoods and raise property values. So, what will the schools and students receive for this property tax increase? What do you think? Stay tuned for Part II when the benefits of our hard-earned tax dollars will be spelled out.
Watch Superintendent Chip Kimball present his levy/bond recommendations on video, 11/9. View the LWSD Press Release, 11/13 on Dr. Kimball's proposal.
*The LWSD School Board holds their WORK STUDY dinner meeting and REGULAR Meeting starting at 5:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the Month.. The Public is invited to both. Work Study Meetings are unstructured and have no video or audio recording and no Minutes (one sentence) so the meetings can be very interesting! Look here for the extended agenda for Work Study and Regular Meetings.
by Bob Yoder
Wow! The levy campaign is the most disingenuous I have seen as a voter. Providing info in Voter's Guide is evidently not important for LWSD. And oh yes, LWSD bureaucrats don't think it is useful to list what I am paying now and the proposed increase in the postcard campaign. Since they didn't tell me, I assumed the basis was zero and rejected the levy as a huge tax increase without any discussion of alternatives. Hopefully, next time they will try honest communication with voters.
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