The Mercer Island School District is asking voters for their help during the Feb. 9 special election. The district will have three levies on the ballot: a general fund levy, a transportation levy and a capital project levy.
All three represent renewal levies, meaning that no new levies are being put in front of voters this February. If all three levies are approved by voters, the district will begin receiving funds in 2011 and the capital projects levy will end in 2016, giving the district approximately $80 million over those years to help improve student education.
Ken Glass, a member of the Committee for Mercer Island Public Schools, which helps to promote local levies, said the money provides much-needed funding for the public school system.
“These levies are important for the district because a strong public education system is the backbone of a great community, and these levies provide the necessary funding for the Mercer Island School District to provide students with the best education possible, within the state funding limitations,” said Glass in an e-mail.
The general fund levy, also referred to as a maintenance and operations (M&O) levy, is for a four-year period, running from 2011 until 2014. In the past, general fund levies have represented 23.6 percent of the district’s funding, which is used as a supplement to the funding received from state and federal sources.
According to the district, if approved, money from the general fund levy will go toward helping to cover the cost of teacher and support staff salaries, lowering class sizes beyond what state funds do, paying for English Language Learner programs, library resources and other materials and supplies. Also according to the district, the Mercer Island School District ranks 166th out of 295 school districts in Washington in per pupil revenue.
If voters approve the general fund levy, the increase would be approximately $220 in 2011, as compared to 2010, for a house assessed at $1 million.
“State law dictates that money raised through levies must be spent only on specific things,” said Glass. “The general fund levy is critical as it provides nearly a quarter of all general operations fundings (e.g. paying teachers salaries). The transportation levy is critical because providing safe transportation for students is absolutely mandatory. And the capital levy is necessary to ensure our schools offer the infrastructure necessary for a 21st century education — as outlined by MISD’s 2020 vision.”
The proposed transportation levy is for a one-year amount of $500,000 and would allow the district to continue routine replacement of buses and would give Mercer Island the ability to purchase new buses. If approved by voters, the 2011 estimated tax increase is $10 (from $50 to $60) for a house assessed at $1 million.
The capital projects levy, if approved, will run for six years, and will allow the district to update buildings and do maintenance throughout the district, such as replacing old boilers in various buildings. A large part of the capital projects levy would go toward updating and creating more technology opportunities in the district. The district is placing a large emphasis on technology, wanting to make sure that teachers and students have access to the latest education technology. If approved, the money will also help pay for additional teachers on special assignments, of which the district currently has two on staff.
The money would also go toward an addition to the music room at Mercer Island High School, track resurfacing and gymnasium updates, as well as updating the telephone system.
The estimated 2011 tax increase is $180 (from $320 to $500) for a home assessed at $1 million.
Currently, voters pay $2.06 per $1,000 of assessed value. If these three measures are approved, the projected 2011 rate is $2.49 per $1,000 and increases to $2.51 in 2012, $2.57 in 2013 and $2.68 in 2014.
The special election is Feb. 9 and ballots will be sent out on Jan. 22. The last day to register in person to vote in the special election is Feb. 1.
