PROGRESSIVE VOTERS GUIDE

The Central Valley School District is proposing Proposition #1, a 20-year $121.9 million school construction bond that will help renovate and expand five elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and an early learning center as well as build a new elementary school and plan a new high school. The schools intended to be renovated and expanded are: Opportunity, Greenacres, Chester, Sunrise and Ponderosa Elementary; Evergreen Middle School; Baker High School; and an Early Learning Center. The bond rate will incur a small increased cost to taxpayers.

The Central Valley School District is proposing Proposition #2, a three-year $25 million renewal of an expiring operations levy. This critical levy provides about 22 percent of the district's budget because Senate Republicans have failed to fully fund local schools. The levy supports music, drama, debate, technology, lower class sizes, programs for struggling students and advanced students, crossing guards, playground supervisors as well as utilities and security issues. The levy rate is $3.56 per $1,000 of assessed home value and will not change your current levy property tax.

The Cheney School District is proposing Proposition #1, a three-year $9.3 million renewal of the expiring Maintenance and Operations Levy. This necessary levy provides more than 20 percent of the district's budget due to the Senate Republicans' failure to properly fund education. More than 4300 students and 600 staff are impacted by the levy, which provides counselors, nurses, sports, activities like music, band, and cheerleading, transportation, special education, technology improvements, the operation and upkeep of facilities, and more. The levy rate is $3.17 per $1,000 of assessed property value and will not change your current property tax rate.

The Cheney School District is proposing Proposition #2, a 21-year $45 million construction bond that will help ease the overcrowding at Cheney High School and Three Springs High School. As the district continues to grow, this bond is needed to provide improvements to safety, security, heating, plumming, electrical systems, additional space for programs, and address traffic and parking concerns. The bond rate is $.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value and will have a very minor increased cost to taxpayers (less than $5/month).

The Highline School District is proposing Proposition #1, a three-year $55.4 million renewal of the expiring Educational Programs & Operations Levy. This critical levy provides more than 20 percent of the district's budget because the state Senate has blocked necessary funding for local schools. The levy will pay for day-to-day operations such as textbooks, technology, bus transportation, teachers and teacher training, security staff, building maintenance and more. The levy rate is $4.22 per $1,000 of assessed home value and will not change your current property tax rate.

The Highline School District is proposing Proposition #2, a $376 million bond to replace and renovate aging schools. In November of 2014, a similar but more expensive bond measure fell short of the 60 percent voter approval needed on bond issues. This trimmed bond will rebuild Highline High School, build a new elementary school and two new middle schools, and make renovations at Tyee and Evergreen schools. With another 2,000 students joining the district soon, bringing the total to 21,000 students, the current crowding will only become worse. The owner of an average Highline home would pay an additional $220 per year for this bond.

The Mead School District is proposing Proposition #1, a three-year $20.85 million renewal of the expiring Educational Programs and Operations Levy. This critical renewal levy provides about 23 percent of the district’s budget because the state legislature has failed to fully fund local schools. The levy supports effective class size, activities (band, choir, drama, orchestra), athletics, counselors/social workers and increased learning opportunities (AP, STEM & Highly Capable). The levy rate is $4.21 per $1,000 of assessed home value and will not change your current levy property tax rate.

The Mead School District is proposing Proposition #2, a 20-year $69.5 million capital improvement bond that includes renovations to modernize Shiloh Hills and Midway elementary schools and replace Northwood Middle School. Additional projects include: district-wide safety and security upgrades, roof and carpet replacement, property acquisition for future school sites, site/traffic improvements, HVAC systems upgrades, K-12 performing arts upgrades, handicapped accessibility improvements, high school track replacement, plus learning, data and security technology infrastructure upgrades. The bond rate for existing and new bonds is $1.42 ($.66 existing + $.76 new) per $1,000 of assessed property value. The net increased cost to a taxpayer with a home value of $100,000 is $6.50/month.

The Snoqualmie Valley School District is proposing Proposition #1, a 20-year $244.4 million capital imrpovement bond that incloudes school construction and repairs. With the growth and overcrowding currently taking place in the district, this solution will rebuild and expand Mount Si High School while also constructing a new elementary school and re-opening a shuttered middle school. The owner of an average Snoqualmie Valley home would pay an additional $258 per year for this bond.

The Spokane School District is proposing Proposition #1, a three-year $65.5 million renewal of the expiring Educational Programs and Operations Levy. This critical levy provides about 22 percent of the district's budget because the state Senate has failed to fully fund our local schools. The levy will pay for day-to-day operations including textbooks, technology, bus transportation, teachers, counselors, librarians, custodians, sports activities, drama, and art classes. The levy rate is $4.02 per $1,000 of assessed home value and will not change your current property tax rate.

The Spokane School District is proposing Proposition #2, a 20-year $145 million capital improvement bond that includes school upgrades, construction, and repairs. Beyond the technology, safety, and security improvements districtwide, the bond will replace Linwood Elementary, modernize and add on to Franklin Elementary, upgrade Adams Elementary, construct additional classrooms for Wilson Elementary as well as Lewis and Clark High School, construct a new cafeteria and common area at North Central High School, and more. The bond rate is $1.96 per $1,000 of assessed property value and will not change your current property tax rate.