School bond and tax elections in Washington
| Bond elections |
|---|
| 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states |
| Property tax elections |
| 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states |
| See also |
| State comparisons How voting works Approval rates |
School bond and tax elections in Washington happen under two circumstances:
- To exceed the state mandated levy cap protected by the Washington Constitution
- To issue new bonds.
Laws affecting school finance
Washington bond issue
Under Washington state law, all school districts must seek approval from the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction as part of the process of getting a bond issue approved.[1] No bond issue may exceed three-eights of one percent of the district's total valuation of taxable property without voter approval. The three-eights percent limit is uniform for all taxing districts in Washington State.[2]
School districts in Washington State can issue bonds for:
- Funding outstanding indebtedness or bonds already issued.
- For the purchase of buildings, playgrounds, physical education/athletic facilities and structures authorized by Washington law or necessary to carry out the functions of a school district
- Erecting all new and expanded buildings, playgrounds, physical education/athletic facilities and structures, and providing the necessary furniture, apparatus, or equipment.
- Improving the energy efficiency of school district buildings and/or installing systems and components to utilize renewable and/or inexhaustible energy resources.
- Major and minor structural changes and structural additions to buildings, structures, facilities and sites.
- A installment purchase contract for school plant facilities or financing a term of which is ten years or longer that contains an option by the school district to purchase the leased property for nominal consideration, but only to the extent such payment constitutes a capital expenditure
- For other capital purposes permitted by law.[3]
All bonds must have the full faith and credit of the State of Washington.[4]
Washington levy limit
The Washington Constitution in Article VII, Section 6 limits any taxing entity including school districts to only up to one and half percent of the value of property. Any school district that seeks to exceed the cap must seek approval from the voters in order to exceed the one and a half percent cap.[5]
School districts can also be indebted up to five percent for the purpose of capital outlays without voter approval.[6]
Washington state is different from other states as they express a state debt limit in percentage form over a millage rate.
Conduct of the bond election, limitations, rules
Authority conducting elections
The respective County Auditor is responsible for running school bond and levy elections.[7]
Election dates
Elections are generally held during the First Tuesday after the first Monday every November.[8]
Needed majority
A three-fifths super-majority vote is needed to pass an election involving the constitutionally protected debt limit or a bond issue exceeding three-eights percent.[9][10]
Special elections
A special election can be called at any time for school districts if a school district needs to issue emergency bonding for fire, flood, earthquake, or other act of God.[11] All other special elections must be called for by a county legislative authority and can be held during the second Tuesday in February, fourth Tuesday in April, third Tuesday in May for tax levies that failed previously in that calendar year and new bond issues, and the third Tuesday in August during a statewide primary.[12]
Wording of measures
Under Washington law, any ballot measure must have an identifying number on the ballot, the legislative body who enacted the question, a description of the measure, and the actual ballot question not exceeding 75 words.[13] The question must end in "Yes" or "No" with check boxes to mark the selection.[14]
Required notice of bond election
Notice is required for any bond or levy election in Washington State. The law sets no minimum or maximum timeline.[15]
List of 2010 Washington school bond elections
Election results are provided by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction-School Finance Division.
| Date | District | Bond Amount | Passed/Failed | % Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 9 | Cheney Prop 1-Bond (Metro Spokane) | Issue $79 million in general obligation bonds | Passed | 65.3% to 34.7% |
| February 9 | Columbia-Prop 1-Bond | Issue $4.3 million in district modernization bonds. | Passed | 52.9% to 47.1% |
| February 9 | Clover Park-Prop 1 (Seattle-Tacoma Area) | Issue $92 million in general obligation bonding. | Passed | 62.4% to 37.6% |
| February 9 | Lake Washington Prop 1 (Metro Seattle)-Levy | Replace Operations and Program Levy | Passed | 61.6% to 38.4% |
| February 9 | Lake Washington Prop 2 (Metro Seattle)-Levy | Replace capital operations levy | Passed | 59.1% to 40.9% |
| February 9 | Lake Washington Prop 3 (Metro Seattle)-Bond | Issue $234 million in general obligation bonds | Passed | 55.7% to 44.3% |
| February 9 | Marysville-Prop 1 | Issue $78 million in general obligation bonding | Passed | 57.5% to 42.5% |
| February 9 | Medical Lake-Prop 1 (Metro Spokane) | Issue $15.65 million in general obligation bonds for school district improvements | Passed | 62.4% to 37.6% |
| February 9 | Meridian-Prop 1 | Issue $17 million in general obligation bonds | Passed | 68.9% to 31.1% |
| February 9 | Northshore-Prop 1 (Metro Seattle) | Renew operations support levy. | Passed | 66.9% to 33.1% |
| February 9 | Northshore-Prop 2 (Metro Seattle) | Renew technology levy. | Passed | 65.4% to 34.6% |
| February 9 | Northshore-Prop 3-Bond (Metro Seattle) | Issue $149.2 million in general obligation bonds | Passed | 62.4% to 37.6% |
| February 9 | Orcas Island-Prop 2-Bond | Issue $35 million of new bonding for school facilities improvements | Passed | 54.9% to 45.1% |
| February 9 | Pomeroy-Prop 1-Bond | Issue $4.49 million in district modernization bonds | Passed | 60.8% to 39.2% |
| February 9 | Shoreline-Prop 1 (Metro Seattle) | Replace operations and maintenance levy | Passed | 70.4% to 29.6% |
| February 9 | Shoreline-Prop 2-Bond (Metro Seattle) | Issue $150 million in bonding for new high school | Passed | 62.5% to 37.5% |
| February 9 | Shoreline-Prop 3 (Metro Seattle) | Issue new technology levy | Passed | 65.9% to 34.1% |
See also
- Voting on school bond and tax measures
- Where to find information about local school bond and tax elections
- School bond election
- Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections
External links
- Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Washington State School Directors Association (dead link)
Footnotes
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28A.525.020 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 28A.525.020 Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=39.36.020 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 39.36.020 Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Bond Issue Law(Referenced Section 28A.530.010)
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Bond Issue Law(Referenced Section 28A.525.250)
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Constitution(Referenced Section Article VII, Section 6)
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Constitution(Referenced Section Article VII, Section 6)
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.04.025 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 29A.04.025 Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.04.321 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 29A.04.321 Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=39.36.020 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 39.36.020 (3) Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Constitution(Referenced Section Article VII, Section 6)
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.04.321 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 29A.04.321 (2) Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.04.321 "Washington Legislature" Washington School Bond Law(Referenced Section 29A.04.321 (4) Revised Code of Washington)
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Election Law(Referenced Statute 29A.36.071(1))
- ↑ "Washington Legislature" Washington Election Law(Referenced Statute 29A.72.050(2)(3))
- ↑ Washington Legislature" Washington Election Law(Referenced Statute 29A.36.080)
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