1. What does the levy pay for?

The levy pays for basics not fully funded by the state, such as personnel, bus transportation, textbooks, and maintaining safe and healthy schools. About 80% of the levy pays for teachers and other staff. Levy funding makes up about one-fourth of the district’s operating budget.

Of every levy dollar, roughly:

• 70 cents pays for teacher and staff salaries and benefits.
• 12 cents pays for special education.
• 12 cents pays for instructional materials.
• 6 cents pays for bus transportation.

2. How much money will the levy raise for schools?

The levy would raise a set amount each year for four years. The table below shows the amount raised by the levy each year and an estimated tax rate. The tax rate will be adjusted as property values change in order to allow the district to collect the exact amount approved by voters-and no more.

Year: 2012

Amount collected: $46 million

Estimated rate/$1000 assessed home valuation: $3.44

Year 2013

Amount collected: $46 million

Estimated rate/$1000 assessed home valuation: $3.44

Year 2014

Amount collected: $47 million

Estimated rate/$1000 assessed home valuation: $3.44

Year 2015

Amount collected: $49 million

Estimated rate/$1000 assessed home valuation: $3.52

3. What happens if property rates increase?

If property rates go up, the tax rate is adjusted downward. The school district does not collect more revenue as property values increase.

4. Is this a tax increase?

This levy replaces a levy that is expiring, so it is not a new tax. The amount the district would collect under the new levy is slightly more than before. When the legislature cut state funding for schools last session, it gave districts permission to ask for a small increase from local voters. However, the increase will only make up for a fraction of the state cuts. The new levy would cost the average Highline homeowner about $14 more per month.

5. How will this tax impact senior citizens?

Low income seniors and people with disabilities may qualify for an exemption. To apply for this exemption, call the King County Tax Exemptions Office at 206-296-3920 or go to www.metrokc.gov/assessor.

6. Where can I vote?

This election is mail-only. Ballots will arrive in voters’ mailboxes around January 19. Completed ballots must be postmarked on or before February 8.

7. What is the difference between a school bond and a school levy?

Bonds are for building. Levies are for learning. Levies raise funds for school district operations, such as teachers, athletics and activities, and support services. When voters approve a levy, they are agreeing to pay taxes to fund these services. Bonds are pay for capital facilities needs. Voters approve a measure allowing the school district to borrow money for facilities improvements. The district issues bonds to raise the money up front. Similar to a home mortgage, the district repays the money (plus interest) in installments over time. Bond dollars can only be used for capital improvements.

8. Why has the school district continued to build schools when operating funds are so tight?

Voters approved a bond for school construction in 2006, and the district is committed - and is legally obligated-to spend that money only on the construction projects approved by voters. By law, the district cannot tap the capital budget for operating expenses.

Via Highline Public Schools Website

THANK YOU to the 20+ volunteers (White Center residents and business owners, students and community partners) who showed up this morning to volunteer for the annual One Night Count of the homeless. We will connect this work to Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day in Olympia on Monday, February 14.

For more information on the One Night Count, please visit:

http://www.homelessinfo.org/one_night_count/

Check out our Twitter page and Facebook page to see similar updates for this event.

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO SLIDESHOW

CLICK HERE TO VIEW WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SUMMIT VIDEO

Photos by Sincere Born, Video filmed and edited by Jerome Buenaventura

School Board Vice President Angelica Alvarez (L) and President Sili Savusa (R).

Sili Savusa was elected by her fellow board members to the post of president of the Highline School Board for 2011. Savusa was initially elected to the board in November 2009. She served as board vice president in 2010.

via Highline Public Schools

Highline Public Schools
Educational Programs Renewal Levy
February 8, 2011

FACT: Highline’s Educational Programs Renewal Levy provides nearly 25% of the district’s funding for teaching students and operating schools.

FACT: Levy dollars are needed to fund the direct education of children. State funding does not cover the full cost of educating students to today’s expectations.

FACT: Our schools depend on the levy because of deepening state funding reductions. The district has cut $14.5 million over the past three years as the state has cut funds for schools. Highline schools face up to $2.1 million in additional cuts this year, and more state cuts in the next two years.

FACT: Eighty percent of the levy pays for teachers and other support staff. Levy dollars fund roughly 250 jobs.

FACT: The levy pays for basics like textbooks, bus transportation, and maintaining safe and healthy schools.

FACT: The levy is not a new tax. It renews an expiring levy.

FACT: The levy is for a fixed dollar amount; the school district does not collect more money as property values go up. The levy would raise $46 million per year in the first two years, $47 million in the third year, and $49 million in the fourth year.

FACT: The estimated levy rate is $3.44 per $1000 in assessed home valuation.

FACT: If the levy fails, the district will have to cut its operating budget by about a quarter. This would mean lay-offs of teachers and support staff. Other cuts could include:

-Shortening the school day.
-Reducing or eliminating courses.
-Increasing class size.
-Cutting extracurricular activities and athletics.
-Limiting community use of school facilities.
-Closing Camp Waskowitz.

FACT: This is a mail-in election. Ballots must be postmarked no later than February 8.

Dear White Center Community: THANK YOU from all of us at the White Center CDA for making last Saturday’s White Center Community Summit a success! Hundreds were able to access dozens of resources connected to Housing, Health, Employment and Education. In addition, participants attended community discussions (some in their own native language) to talk about these topics and how issues have effected them in the neighborhood. Food and Entertainment representing many countries were presented in the afternoon, and 14 different workshops rounded out the day in what was a great day to celebrate White Center. Our event artist Carol Tagawa (who also works at Cascade Middle School) created this drawing for the event:

To see more photos via Twitter, please click here. We’ll have more photos and a Community Summit video to post in the next couple of weeks. Thank you to the many community partner organizations and White Center residents who made this event possible. See you at the next White Center Community Summit - Saturday, December 3, 2011!

All are welcome to this free event! Click the link below this flyer to view the flyer in SIX different languages!

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