tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post2158963428800124292..comments2024-03-28T15:34:48.727-07:00Comments on Redmond Neighborhood Blog: LETTER: Can Lake Washington School District taxpayers afford another $755,000,000 in bond debt for school construction?Bob Yoderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17538345340147926309noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-53045880384475863332014-04-15T08:30:31.917-07:002014-04-15T08:30:31.917-07:00Great post! Been reading a lot about different cas...Great post! Been reading a lot about different cases of school district construction. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!School Constructionhttp://www.gudenkaufsystems.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-15235435002691403022014-02-07T19:43:52.812-08:002014-02-07T19:43:52.812-08:00Lake Washington School District is low balling bon...Lake Washington School District is low balling bond repayments when they say only 0.53 per $1,000, this only applies to early years.<br /><br />Per documents provided by Bond from bond issuer D.A. Davidson in constant dollars:<br /><br />2019 - $ 30,2 M or ($0.89)<br /><br />2032 - $ 54.4 M or ($1.61)<br /><br />2041 - $ 71.0 M or ($2.10)<br /><br />Also we are still paying off $ 6627 Million in principal and interest on 1998, 2006, 2012 bonds.<br /><br />What we need is a reasonable request from LWSD until then REJECT, LWSD needs to be a place where people can afford to raise a family with affordable housing and schools.Dave Griffinhttp://1-2not3.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-14295799132838888552013-11-12T19:23:27.798-08:002013-11-12T19:23:27.798-08:00REBUILD JUANITA HIGH SCHOOL.
Its in complete desp...REBUILD JUANITA HIGH SCHOOL.<br /><br />Its in complete despair and shouldn't have to wait until 2025 to get one of these modernized, 3 story building with a large gym.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-21662602983797729322013-11-08T00:24:25.965-08:002013-11-08T00:24:25.965-08:00Yes, anonymous. Let's give the school distric...Yes, anonymous. Let's give the school district carte blanche to spend 3/4 of a billion dollars--especially given their poor track record with past expenditures and their apparent poor math skills when it comes to estimating class loads for schools. The district, city and county depend on low information voters like you. Congratulations! You did it all "for the children". Ryan Pettyhttp://xlog.xero.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-75925908323226915602013-10-30T10:45:37.913-07:002013-10-30T10:45:37.913-07:00As a parent with students in the school system, my...As a parent with students in the school system, my question is how can we NOT pass both the levy and the bond. If you disagree with how the district spends the money then write a letter to the district. But don't vote no just to spite the district. In the end, you are only hurting the students. The bond will pay for additional schools. Before you vote no, go visit some schools that are currently overcrowded and ask the principals what their estimates are for the next few years. Then tell me where those kids should sit for their classes and lunch. You may not like the way the modernization process is going forward but we need those additional schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-9526568851816344302013-10-29T16:57:28.215-07:002013-10-29T16:57:28.215-07:00There’s no question that these bond issues are des...There’s no question that these bond issues are designed and sold to pay for the systematic replacement of all our schools under the guise of modernization.<br /><br />A big problem we face, tho, is that the district has a vigorous publicity department and a skilled and well organized bond and levy sales committee.<br /><br />This bond issue was carefully timed to fall after this probably low turnout November general election so there would be no problem with validation. They should easily get enough voters to validate the february special election.<br /><br />They only need a simple majority to pass the levies, but they still need a 60% majority to pass the bond issue. You can bet the levy committee will be pulling out all the stops to get every yes vote possible for the bond issue.<br /><br />We need to figure out and pursue some way to get every person possible who opposes this bond issue to actually cast a no vote to prevent a majority of yes votes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-62434808282341886092013-10-28T19:37:56.955-07:002013-10-28T19:37:56.955-07:00I haven't crunched all these numbers, but I do...I haven't crunched all these numbers, but I do have one comment: LWSD schools are 'gorgeous' but they are definitely NOT 'oversized'. Rosa Parks was at double capacity within a few years of opening, because apparently those 4BR and 5BR homes were still assumed to have 1.7 kids (doesn't it make more sense that larger houses = disproportionately larger families)?! So above and beyond this bond measure, we need to be asking what math is going INTO that equation of predicting school populations? If we know we are repeatedly outgrowing our schools (which we are) and we are unwilling to redraw boundaries (which, for the most part, we are), we can't address overcrowding by piggybacking levies and bonds and patching solutions - we need to do the math right the first time and/or have a clear plan in place besides 'oops we need more money.'Mommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15694147835692247817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-1664851162052588922013-10-28T10:07:49.343-07:002013-10-28T10:07:49.343-07:00I have no idea where the school district got the $...I have no idea where the school district got the $30.00 per month or $365 per year cost for the Bond Measure. It is completely inaccurate and totally misleading. Their official brochure has this $30/month number on it too. <br />-----------------------<br /><br />How to figure out the "Approximate levy rate/$1,000 Assessed Value" that appears on the ballot...<br /><br />The 2014 EP&O levy includes the following table: <br /><br />Collection Years Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value Levy Amount<br />2015 $1.85 $63,000,000<br />2016 $1.88 $64,900,000<br />2017 $1.90 $66,800,000<br />2018 $1.92 $68,900,000 <br /><br />To figure out where the middle column with $1.85 comes from, we first need to get the total assessed value of all the property in the Lake Washington School District. The King County Assessor's Office provides this number to school districts. In 2012 the total assessed value of property in the school district was $33,678,896,894. (It will be higher for 2013 as home prices have gone up.)<br /><br />Divide $33,678,896,894 by 1,000 to figure out much money will be collected if taxes are assessed at $1.00 per thousand. <br /> ($33,678,896,894 / 1000 = 33,678,896.84) <br />To figure out how much it will cost to collect $63,000,000 for the 2015 EP&O levy, divide 63,000,000 by 33,678,896.84. <br />It equals about $1.85 per thousand. <br />So a $450,000 median priced home (using the 2012 value) would be assessed $1.85 x 450 to get $837 annually or $69.75 per month. This is how much the EP&O levy will cost the average homeowner. Properties assessed at $200,000 would pay 200 x 1.85 = $370 per year. Properties assessed at $600,000 would pay 600 x 1.85 = $1,100 per year. (Remember: this is only for the EP&O levy.)<br /><br />The $147 per month came from the total 2013-2014 levy and bond payments.<br />EPO Levy: $64.50 CP Levy: $25.12 Bonds: $57.38<br />$64.50 + $25.12 + $57.38 = $147.00 per month or $1746 per year.<br /><br />On your 2013 tax bill, look for the line that says Taxable Value. Divide by 1000 then multiply by 3.92. That will tell you about how much you're paying in school taxes for 2013 based on 2012 assessments.<br /><br />In 2013, the assessed values on homes went up, so the total assessed value of all property will go up in 2014. Additionally, all of the new homes and office buildings that were built in the district will cause the total assessed value in the district to go up. With more property in the district, the levy rate per $1000 in assessed value will go down so taxes per 1000 will go down a little, but only by a few pennies per thousand.<br /><br />If you're confused, I can tell you that I have to step through this very slowly and carefully, too. But I checked and rechecked my numbers and calculations and I'm sure that they are correct.<br /><br />Susan Wilkinsnoreply@blogger.com