This February, you will be asked to vote on 3 measures for the Lake Washington School District (LWSD). On behalf of the 29,572 students in LWSD, most of whom are not eligible to vote for their educational resources and opportunity, I humbly ask you to vote YES on all 3 measures. It is a wise investment not just for our students and families, but for our community’s quality of life. We are quite fortunate to have a strong public school system, and voting Yes this February can keep it that way. I truly believe that a strong school system helps develop capable children who will be our helpers and leaders in the community for years to come.
Proposition 1, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O), replaces an expiring levy. The EP&O Levy funds 19.2% of LWSD’s operating budget, including essential staff and programs in place such as substitute teachers, Special Education, Highly Capable programs, English Language learning, nurses, early learning, teacher training, and athletics. As the state will be increasing its investment in education for all districts across the state, LWSD was able to reduce the amount requested locally and therefore will REDUCE its local tax rate for this levy. By voting Yes on Prop 1, you are voting to maintain the strong schooling LWSD offers today. The state’s approach is not meant to cover 100% of programs, that’s why local levies will continue to exist. To be accountable to taxpayers, the state legislature set a limit for local school districts to collect on this levy, and LWSD has taken this even further to collect $41.6M LESS than the amount authorized by the state. To maintain what LWSD offers today, we need to vote YES and pass this Levy. [Read "MORE" to learn about the other levy and capital bond.]
Proposition 2, the Capital Projects Levy, replaces an expiring levy. 36% of the Levy funds critical improvements in our facilities, and 64% of the Levy funds Technology. This levy funds maintenance to fix a school’s roof when it leaks, to repair a school’s heater when it goes out, and to implement security measures for safety. We also rely on this levy for computers, instructional software, networking, and security cameras in use across the district. Given our tech savvy community in particular, it’s important we invest and deliver these learning platforms and tools for our students. Vote YES on this levy, and your tax rate will remain the same.
Proposition 3, the Bond to Reduce Overcrowding and Enhance Learning Environments, is the second step in a long-term, fiscally responsible plan to build space for our massively growing student population. The 2016 bond measure was the first, and it’s exciting to see your support come to fruition as we open two new schools in Redmond this fall (new Middle school comes in 2019)! Over the last 7 years, LWSD’s enrollment has grown enough to fill 7 large elementary schools. This bond will build space across all 3 cities for 2,100 children to learn. Just like any responsible investment, LWSD’s plan to build more school space is phased over time to build the schools we need but minimize the burden on taxpayers. Vote YES on this bond, and your tax rate will remain the same.
Thanks to good fiscal discipline, LWSD has saved $24M over the last 3 years for taxpayers by refinancing Bonds. LWSD holds the highest rating possible from Moody’s Investors Service, a rating bestowed on less than .45% of school districts in the nation. By engaging outside advice from industry experts on construction cost saving principles, LWSD has also avoided more than $43M in school construction costs and kept current projects on track or ahead (by a year!) of schedule.
I am very thankful for the education I received, the education my children now receive, and the education my future grandchildren will receive. Paving the way for a prosperous tomorrow for our families and our community - that is a very wise investment. Please Vote Yes on Prop 1, Prop 2, and Prop 3 for LWSD Kids. Learn more athttp://vote4lwsdkids.org/ or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
Martha DeAmicis, Redmond
The McCleary Decision by the State Supreme Court requires the State to take over fully funding basic education. In July 2017, the Legislature passed a $7.2 Billion plan to fund education. This means that the "state" portion of our property taxes are going up - WAY UP.
ReplyDeleteDuring the LWSD Bond & Levy presentations done by Superintendent Traci Pierce, the question of how the District can say "No Tax Rate Increase" when State taxes are going up was answered with a vague explanation about the school district not controlling state taxes.
Let's be clear - the STATE TAX RATE INCREASE IS FOR SCHOOLS so proposing school tax levies that maintain the same tax rate while the state is increasing taxes collectively results in HIGHER TAX RATES & HIGHER SCHOOL TAXES.
It is so irresponsible and deceptive for the Lake Washington School District to be telling us that our tax rates won't increase.
We won't even get our property tax bills until the week after the election. Should we really be voting on new local school taxes without first seeing how much more we'll be paying for state school taxes?
The school board should have waited until April or August to put these measures on the ballot. School funding is in transition so nobody should be asked to vote yes. Vote NO,NO,NO on February 13.
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ReplyDelete2) The state property tax increase is going to all 295 districts in Washington State. It is NOT all coming to LWSD. This is a very critical point to remember.
3) These 3 measures I am voting YES on this February put funding directly into LWSD schools. The levies maintain what we have today, thus why they are called replacement levies. The bond will build space for 2,100 more students.
4) Districts rely on local levy dollars to fund operations, programs, staff, technology and classroom space – all items that are NOT funded by the state. The McCleary Plan does not provide all the funding needed for students and schools. In fact, the legislature authorizes districts to collect local levy dollars for the things not funded by the state. The EP&O Levy for example funds 19.2% of LWSD’s operating budget. Simple math will tell you the impact of this Levy on our staffing and resources for educating kids, not to mention, the # of kids aren’t going down. The Capital Levy funds facilities critical upgrades (roof repair, heating repair, water, door locks, security cameras, etc.), and technology (computers, networking, learning software) in the district – items not funded by the state. The Bond funds building space for 2,100 kids - also not otherwise funded by the state.
5) On that note, LWSD is asking for less than the full amount authorized by the legislature on the EP&O Levy – not just a little less, $41.6M less than authorized. They’ve intentionally asked for less so they can REDUCE the local tax rate for their citizens because they are aware of what’s going on at the state level.
6) The LWSD tax rate today is $3.16 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total tax for all three measures will be reduced from the current amount to $2.93 per $1,000. The example below shows the calculation of total taxes for an individual homeowner. Assessed value of $700,000 divided by 1,000 = 700. Then multiply 700 by the total tax rate of 3.16 for a total tax of $2,212.
2018: $700,000 ÷ 1,000 = 700 x 3.16 = $2,212
2019: $735,000* ÷ 1,000 = 735 x 2.93 = $2,154
*Assumes 5% growth in assessed value from 2018 to 2019.
Benchmarking is always key for me.
Issaquah’s local school tax rate? Ranges from $3.21 up to $3.56 per 1,000 AV. $.50+ more per 1,000 amounts to $350 per year more on a $700K home.
Bellevue’s local school rate (despite all that commercial and retail real estate like Bellevue Square)? $2.93 to $2.58. Seems like a deal! Well, I did a quick search, Zillow says Bellevue’s Median home is $788K (probably factual, but do a search for sale properties and you’ll agree, I see nothing around schools rated as high as LWSD’s for anywhere south of 2M+ ��). Even at $788K, that says that median BSD taxpayer will pay $2033. Within $100 of LWSD.
7) So what happens if state increases its investment to cover all needs? Check this out, “If the Legislature were to come through with the additional funding needed to fully fund the underfunded areas of basic education, then the district would be able to collect even fewer levy dollars.” (https://www.seattletimes.com/.../districts-explain.../... Washington).” Seems very responsible to me - if state comes through with more, we will collect less.
8) The ballot measures specify a total amount of money that can be raised. If property values in the district rise, the tax rate per $1,000 assessed valuation will decline, as the total amount of taxes collected remains the same. Tax rates also go down when new residential and commercial property is built in the district. Those new property owners help share the payments, reducing the amount you have to pay. For example, if the district had only four residents and needed to raise a dollar, it would ask each resident for 25 cents. But if another house was built, it would only need 20 cents from each of the five residents to raise the dollar. This has happened in LWSD!