LWSD Will Put Tax Levy On April Ballot

KIRKLAND, WA - Voters in the Lake Washington School District will be asked to approve a tax levy in April. The levy would raise $120 million over six years to expand several local schools due to enrollment growth, according to the district.

The school board voted to put the measure on the ballot on Monday. Here are the levy details:

How much?

To raise the $120 million, the levy will increase taxes, but it's not clear yet by how much. The district says the overall tax rate of $2.60 per $1,000 of assessed value will remain in 2019. The district will raise about $20 million per year from the new levy, if approved.

What are they building?

The district says it needs the additional money to expand schools due to enrollment growth. The district grew by 418 students this year, according to the October count. Here's what the district said in a press release about what will happen: "classroom additions at Lake Washington High School, including auxiliary gyms and commons; classroom additions at Carson Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Rose Hill Elementary, and Twain Elementary, including expansion of core facilities where feasible; and support student safety by adding exterior security cameras at elementary schools and create entry modifications for security at Eastlake, Redmond and Lake Washington High Schools."

Didn't we already vote on this?

Yes, voters have approved other construction levies in recent years. Voters approved a levy in 2016, but one that was on the ballot this year failed to reach the 60 percent needed to pass. The measure coming in 2019 "will help address the immediate critical capacity needs of the district," the district said in a press release.

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