6 other school districts to vote on levies

By Seattle Times staff

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In addition to the Seattle Public School levies, other King County school districts have tax measures on the Feb. 3 ballot. All require 60 percent approval:

AUBURN residents will vote on two school measures. A two-year, $37.3 million operations levy continues funding for about 18 percent of the district's education programs and services. It renews a two-year levy approved by voters in 2002.

A two-year, $2.1 million transportation levy would purchase 24 school buses — 14 to serve Mountainview High School when it opens next year and 10 to replace aging buses.

If approved, both levies would increase Auburn School District's total tax rate by a penny. That total rate, which includes previously approved construction bonds, would be about $5.38 per $1,000 assessed valuation in 2005 and 2006, compared with $5.37 this year.

FEDERAL WAY school officials are opting for a four-year instead of a two-year operations levy request to help stabilize funding and save money on levy elections, which cost districts about $125,000. The $122 million measure continues funding for basic school operations.

District officials say they have been paying for computers and other technology services for eight years through "creative use" of their general and capital budgets and through grants and donations. Those one-time sources are gone, they say, so they're asking voters to approve a six-year, $10.8 million technology levy. It would maintain the current computer-to-student ratio of 1 to 8 and upgrade equipment.

The tax rate collected for Federal Way schools has dropped 19 percent, from $5.26 to $4.28 per $1,000 of assessed value, since 1996, district officials say. If both Feb. 3 requests are approved, the total tax rate in 2008 would still be $4.28.

FIFE residents are considering a four-year, $3.6 million proposal, the school district's first technology levy, to replace aging and obsolete computers and other equipment.

District officials say they've invested about $4.6 million in technology since 1996, funded mostly from construction bonds and interest earnings, and the proposed tax request would protect this investment.

The district says that even with previously approved levies still being collected, Fife's total levy rate for school funding will be less than the rate in 2001 if voters OK the Feb. 3 proposition.

MERCER ISLAND voters are being asked to approve a four-year, $4.79 million capital projects and technology levy to replace a two-year levy that expires at the end of this year. It will pay for several facility renovations, such as library lighting and a new gym floor at Islander Middle School, and pay to replace obsolete computers.

Starting this year, district officials say, all levy requests will be for four years, alternating general fund and capital levies.

Mercer Island's current capital levy costs about 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The levy on the Feb. 3 ballot would cost taxpayers 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

RENTON residents will vote on a four-year, $78.5 million operations levy that represents about 24 percent of the district's annual budget. It renews the current levy and pays for services not funded by the state, including some transportation; textbooks; staffing to maintain low class size; elective classes such as music, art and P.E.; and building maintenance.

Renton's total schools tax rate, which includes previously approved bonds for construction and technology improvements, would continue to be $3.79 per $1,000 of assessed value if this year's operations levy passes.

RIVERVIEW schools are asking for a two-year, $8.3 million operations levy that replaces the current levy and pays for needs not covered by the state, among them librarians, counselors, gifted and remedial programs, and some food service and transportation.

A two-year, $1.3 million technology levy would pay for classroom computer stations, library computers, continued staff training and other improvements.

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