News & Information

The state Legislature changed school levy laws (Substitute House Bill 2893) this spring to provide additional local funds, if approved by the district's voters during an election. This law provides communities the opportunity to vote on whether to supplement previously approved school levy funds to help offset reductions in federal and state funding.

The Bellingham School Board has been exploring the possibility of asking voters to consider a temporary supplemental levy on this November’s ballot. At the meeting, the Board authorized the district to draft a resolution for a two-year temporary supplemental levy for $1.3 million per year in 2011 and 2012.

The state sets a maximum levy amount for each school district, known as a “levy lid.” Bellingham is currently below the “levy lid” and has been for six of the previous 10 years. The law allows the Board to authorize a temporary supplemental levy to increase our “levy lid” by up to 4 percent. A temporary supplemental levy for an additional $1.3 million would still not take our levy to the maximum amount.

If the School Board takes action on a resolution for a temporary supplemental levy in the amount of $1.3 million per year for two years, the tax impact would be approximately 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value or about $24 per year on a $200,000 home. Or, the School Board could choose to modify the resolution to ask voters to consider a temporary supplemental levy for the maximum allowable 4 percent in the estimated amount of $3.4 million per year for two years, which would increase the tax rate by approximately 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed value or about $62 per year on a $200,000 home.

Because needs far exceed resources, Superintendent Greg Baker and the Board discussed how the district might prioritize numerous instructional and operational needs following approximately $6 million in budget cuts that Bellingham Public Schools have made during the past two years due to declining state resources. They discussed how a temporary supplemental levy could help offset the potential estimated $2.6 million loss of funds the district could face in spring 2010 if the state does not restore I-728 class size reduction funds, eliminates K-4 class size funds and does not amend the pension rate collection model.    

The School Board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3 in the Board Room, 1306 Dupont St., followed by a meeting to take action on a resolution. The Board is interested in public feedback before taking action on authorizing a temporary supplemental levy for the November ballot. Public input may be submitted in writing online to the School Board’s Listening Post; by letter to School Board, 1306 Dupont Street, Bellingham, WA 98825; or given verbally at the public hearing.