UPDATED: LWSD To Place Three Levies On February 8 Ballot

Two replacement levies and Building Excellence Capital Levy

The Capital Levy while needed, is a new tax.

These measures will be on the February 8, 2022 ballot

Redmond, Wash. - Lake Washington School District is planning three ballot measures for the February 8, 2022 election. The measures are a replacement of the existing Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy, a replacement of the existing School Technology and Capital Levy, and a Building Excellence Capital levy. A recommendation was presented to the Board of Directors on October 4, and they formally approved the levies at their October 18 board meeting. 

This Building Excellence Capital Levy will be "new taxes"

• Building Excellence Capital Levy – To continue meeting the needs of our growing district, this levy will help us add classroom space to our schools. The Facility Advisory Committee provided recommendations for future facility projects to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and continue to provide learning environments that promote excellence for students. The board considered these recommendations, received information and feedback from the Levy Advisory Committee and considered multiple options for addressing short and long-term capacity needs in seven study sessions between January and September 2021. This levy would fund the first step of three funding measures to provide required student space by 2034. This Levy funds critical capacity needs required by 2024: 
• Elementary: Redmond area 
• Middle: Juanita, Kirkland and Redmond areas 
• High: Kirkland, Redmond and Eastlake areas

• How much are the installments of the Capital Levy and for how long do they last? 

  The 6-Year Building Excellence Capital Levy annual amounts are:

  2023 $35 Million

  2024 $45 Million

  2025 $45 Million

  2026 $58 Million

  2027 $56 Million

  2028 $56 Million 

• Replacement of the existing Educational Programs & Operations Levy – This levy accounts for 14% of the district’s operating budget. School districts are required to renew EP&O levies every four years. EP&O levies ensure our students have continued access to staff, programs and course offerings to be successful and graduate future-ready. The levy provides support for social/emotional learning and mental health counselors, health and safety, professional learning, additional course offerings, special education programs, English language programs, Highly Capable programs, transportation, athletics and activities and more. The EP&O levy fills the gap between what the state funds for basic education and what our students and schools need.  An average of $92.3 Million / year.
  
  
• Replacement of the existing Capital Projects Levy - The four-year Capital Projects Levy replaces the expiring Capital Projects Levy which was approved by LWSD voters in 2018. This levy funds facility and technology needs not funded by the state, helping ensure our students have technology and healthy school buildings for learning. This levy funds facility needs such as: heating/ventilation systems; roofing replacement; athletic and playfield improvements; portables; and safety measures. It also funds technology needs such as infrastructure; network security; staff and student computers; instructional software; security cameras; communication and business systems; and staff training.  An average of $44.3 Million / year.

Learn more on the LWSD website: https://www.lwsd.org/education-levies.