ELECTION 2019: Seattle Public Schools levies approved

dkm February 12, 2019 (9:18 pm)

I wish this was a joke.

parent February 13, 2019 (6:04 am)

The joke is voters who believe school buildings never wear out, plumbing never breaks, or heating systems never need to be upgraded.
- WR February 14, 2019 (8:30 am)
  
  I know the BEX levy will be used for new schools and upgrades, but there is a $500m backlog of repairs in the district and from what I have read this backlog is not addressed with these funds.

Swede. February 12, 2019 (9:58 pm)

Woo, more taxes for the middle class!

heartless February 12, 2019 (10:18 pm)

Are the upper class taxed less?
- Winnie February 13, 2019 (2:11 am)
  
  As a percentage of income, yes.
AMD February 12, 2019 (10:41 pm)

It’s renewing existing levies, and at a lower rate. So slightly less taxes, not more.
- WR February 14, 2019 (8:37 am)
  
  Existing capital levy was 758M over 3 years and is being replaced by 815M over three years. the BEX IV was 694M over 6 years and is being replaced by 1.4B over 6 years. They were existing levies, but these are not at all the same amounts of $$.
Polites February 13, 2019 (5:52 am)

Wooo, more money for teachers to help our kids become good people! (and I have no kids in school right now).If you don’t like the way we pay for schools (which I agree hits the middle class), you should push for a progressive state income tax that taxes wealthier people at a higher rate.
- Peter S. February 13, 2019 (6:53 am)
  
  @Polites: a “progressive state income tax” has been repeatedly struck down as unconstitutional in Washington State.
  - Polites February 13, 2019 (8:16 am)
    
    Not repeatedly. Once, almost 80 years ago, in a 5-4 decision on one law.Property taxes – the way we currently are forced to fund schools – will always hit the middle class hard. Given that schools need funding, the only way to address unequal tax burdens is through a progressive income tax. It’s just math.
    - wscommuter February 13, 2019 (9:06 am)
      
      And much more to the point, a subject in sore need of amending the state constitution to allow for. That we continue to tax our citizens on a regressive basis via sales tax remains one of the stupidest systemic public policy decisions this state has ever made. We’re supposed to be a blue state – why are we still taxing like Republicans want us to?
    - Peter S. February 13, 2019 (9:07 am)
      
      OK – technically you are correct. Struck down in court once. Constitutional amendment rejected multiple times at the ballot box.

Gene February 13, 2019 (7:25 am)

It’s a new tax- the previous levy expired- gotta love the” renewing “spin tactic- it always works here.

WSB February 13, 2019 (7:54 am)

The only reason the previous levies “expire” is because state law puts a time limit on them rather than allowing ongoing operating and capital levies.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=84.52.053
- Gene February 13, 2019 (9:47 am)
  
  Right- so maybe some folks think – ok-can put up with tax for X number of years- except during thise years more property taxes are added on-& on & on. Once that $$ has been coming in- it’s counted on forever by whoever is getting it.

WS Resident February 13, 2019 (7:29 am)

Do we know when they will be rebuilding Alki Elementary now that this has passed?

SLJ February 13, 2019 (7:49 am)

I have been in both Alki and WS elementary–the buildings are in disrepair. I know taxes are difficult, but kids need to be in schools that have the capacity for the number of students. All the schools need periodic updates, especially with the rapid change in technology. Our kids need to learn with up-to-date equipment. But at a minimum they should have a decent structure!

MJN February 13, 2019 (8:28 am)

No I cant believe we keep voting for more. How about we audit the city and state find out how we spend all the money they collect.same story the schools dont have funding and medic one needs to be cut unless we raise taxes

WSB February 13, 2019 (9:04 am)

City budget:
http://www.seattle.gov/financedepartment/

What the city auditor has looked at:
https://www.seattle.gov/cityauditor

Medic One:
https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/emergency-medical-services/levy.aspx
(an expiring levy. this link includes information on the work toward the replacement levy for later this yar)

raybro February 13, 2019 (9:07 am)

From what I read in the Seattle Times, the Seattle school district (SCD) asked for more money in the operations levy than what is allowed for under state law. Is this is indeed true, does that mean SCD can’t legally collect this money unless the legislature increases the amount districts can collect? WSB, can you look into this and report back? If they can’t collect the money, they will need to send another operations levy to the voters in a special election. If this is true, we taxpayers will be stuck with the cost of that election. Please WSB, please look into this.

WSB February 13, 2019 (10:04 am)

The Seattle Times editorial you’re referring to (not a news story, an editorial):
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/seattle-levy-threatens-mccleary-reforms/

The district says the Times refused to publish the answers to the questions posed in its editorial, so it posted the answers on its own website
https://www.seattleschools.org/district/calendars/news/what_s_new/levies_updates/school_levies_are_critical

Regarding the Times’ contention that something was “illegal” about the amount in the operations levy, Melissa Westbrook addresses it here:
http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2019/01/seattle-schools-levies-times-pounces.html
- raybro February 13, 2019 (10:38 am)
  
  Thanks WSB for the (very quick) info to the Seattle Times editorial.
- KM February 13, 2019 (11:32 am)
  
  A great example of the issues with editorials and Editorial Boards. People read editorials as news, especially if the writer is on the masthead.

ALKIbum February 13, 2019 (9:18 am)

Sales tax is the way to go. From 10% to 15%. Everyone pays their fair share this way.

John February 13, 2019 (9:50 am)

No, a straight sales tax hits the poor much harder than the rich or the middle class.
LJ February 13, 2019 (9:56 am)

Sales tax are actually considered a regressive tax. AKA, everyone does NOT pay their fair share.https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/regressivetax.asphttps://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/teacher/whys_thm03_les02.jsp
Nolan February 13, 2019 (10:01 am)

Sales tax is literally the most regressive way to apply taxation: our economy is built on the backs of the lower class that are spending entire paychecks on material goods just to get by. Rich people don’t spend 100x more on food or 100x more on clothing just because they have 100x more income.If you want “fair share”, income + capital gains tax with progressive brackets is where you should be looking.
- CandrewB February 14, 2019 (5:36 am)
  
  Food is not taxed. And the rich probably do spend on average 100x more on material goods and services.
Jon Wright February 13, 2019 (10:01 am)

A sales tax is regressive and is a disproportionate burden to lower-income people. This isn’t my notion of “fair.” Property tax is the closest approximation to a means-tested tax that the state currently permits.
S February 13, 2019 (10:10 am)

Wealthier individuals save / invest a much higher percentage of their income than lower and middle-class residents do. This makes sales taxes a highly regressive form of taxation. An example: Household one makes 60,000 and spends 30,000 on purchases subject to sales taxes (Food, rent etc are exempt). At 10% they pay 3,000 in sales taxes annually or 5% of their income.Household two makes 250,000 and spends 100,000 on purchases subject to sales tax. At 10% they pay $10,000 in sales taxes a year or 4% of their income.As a percentage of income, household one is paying in a higher percentage of their household income each year in sales taxes even through they make 1/4th of household two. This is the problem with high sales tax rates.If you’re equating a sales tax to a “flat tax” where all income is taxed (and thus everyone pays the same rate on their overall income), that is currently unconstitutional under state law as the tax would be measured on income.
- B.W. February 15, 2019 (5:27 pm)
  
  Thank you S for such a nice explanation an average person can understand.

Peter February 13, 2019 (10:05 am)

Why are people such suckers? There is already ample revenue to support our schools. The problem is the complete and total lack or any coordination at all between the school district, city, and state. I guess people bought the district’s many lies about impending disaster if these didn’t pass. I repeat, suckers. Not to mention the fact that the operations levy is clearly illegal, so hopefully it will be rightly tossed out by the courts. We are being robbed and getting nothing for it. What this comes down to is our education institutions being incompetent, and deciding that forcing housing prices even higher will hide their utter incompetence. I am outraged and disgusted.

Ivan Weiss February 13, 2019 (11:04 am)

Hi Peter. I’d bet you can’t back up one single claim you just made.
T February 13, 2019 (11:21 am)

I thought the McCleary decision was supposed to finally fund education properly. We’re paying for that with a recent significant increase in property taxes (which increase even more in a few years). So now previous levies and getting renewed too. I feel education is important but people just seem to vote yes forgetting about current and previous levies.
Nolan February 13, 2019 (11:30 am)

Lol, someone who thinks taxes are theft calling others “suckers” for funding education in spite of a system that was intentionally broken by other people who think taxes are theft.
Reminder February 13, 2019 (11:42 am)

There is plenty of money to fund schools and let me remind you that Auctions exist at the majority of all schools now. Where is all this money going?
- WSB February 13, 2019 (11:59 am)
  
  Auctions are PTA projects that raise in comparison a pittance. Five digits if they are lucky – after tons of volunteer labor, often by a relative handful of people, plus donations from generous (but not rich!) local independent businesses (another reason support for local independent businesses matters so much), AND the PTA volunteers still have to cover the costs of putting on the fundraiser. Here’s the Madison PTSA’s post on its recent event, for example:
  http://madisonptsa.com/thank-you-to-our-madison-community/
  
  $32,000 – which is a GREAT take for one of these (we have covered countless school/nonprofit fundraisers) but that’s a grand total of $40 per student.
  
  P.S. Look at DonorsChoose.org sometime.
  - Reminder February 13, 2019 (12:31 pm)
    
    Thanks for the auction info. It’s still extra money. I comment on this topic all the time and like to ask people to do what I do. Drive around West Seattle and look at all the private schools, then around the whole city of Seattle There are a lot of private schools. The parents of all of those schools pay these taxes for others. So how is there never enough money? Where is it going? It does not add up
    - Jethro Marx February 13, 2019 (3:58 pm)
      
      If, instead of wasting $40 worth of gas driving to all these private schools and then (I guess on a separate trip?) driving all around Seattle to the public schools, we all just looked at pictures of the schools, could we solve school funding by each sending in the $40?
- Jon Wright February 13, 2019 (1:59 pm)
  
  How is there never enough money? Because the state’s budget doesn’t provide enough money. As a result, districts are left scrambling to make up the difference with levies. Not sure what the existence of private schools is supposed to prove. It’s not like private schools are a new thing.Interesting phenomenon: based on comments here you’d think 2/3 of people were going to vote against the levy. It’s encouraging to get confirmation that the “angry interwebs poster” is really a pretty marginal demographic.

ShuffleRunner February 13, 2019 (2:27 pm)

First, I’d like to thank WSB for providing factual responses to legitimate questions and misrepresentations in this thread. Second, It seems like many of the comments made here lack perspective outside of Seattle. I’ve lived in many different states and even some other countries where taxes vary widely. Seattle is the first place I’ve lived where I actually feel (subjective not objective) like I get what I pay for with my tax dollars. Our schools are great compared to most other cities our size, our transportation is actually functional, and our libraries/parks are top notch. Most cities only make changes or fix problems after it literally kills someone. I didn’t think it was a great idea to wait for the next earthquake to see if schools built in the 70’s would hold up or if our schools would continue to be decent without any new investment. I’m glad the majority of voters thought the same.

PatsFanWithSeattleTan February 13, 2019 (2:57 pm)

I think I speak for a number of property owners to say that we understand the need for taxes and generally don’t begrudge it. However, it is hard to contemplate that – in five years – our tax bill has doubled (likely, given what I’m hearing about the post-McCleary bills). Has the budget doubled? Has the need truly doubled? Have rates/collections increased 50% from other revenue sources? These questions should not be confused with or blamed on property values.The majority of property owners – willing to bet – haven’t had their income increased 50%, so the percentage burden on the individual property owner has increased. And it’s not that easy to convert appreciation into income – nor should we have to. Appreciation is not a one way street – values go down too.This is incrementally regressive to property owners and we should be more open to broader general tax increase sources – be it liquor, sales, tourist, income, capital gains. Continuing to appropriate the equity of primary residences does not have a good ending – forcing seniors to sell, disrupting families, decreasing the property values. At a community level, it’s already been published that our free Junction parking is in jeopardy because of the increase in commercial rates. There’s probably other ramifications we haven’t heard of. We need to be more balanced in our revenue approach.