Bellevue has nationally ranked schools.  Every four years, Bellevue School District voters renew crucial levies that fund important needs for our schools. The Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy pays for daily classroom and operational needs not funded by the State of Washington. Your vote sustains this important community investment.

Your “Yes” vote supports student learning. The EP&O levy directly funds high-quality instruction and academic support for Bellevue students. EP&O funding is critical to retain seven-period days at all our middle and high schools and fund world language and special education programs. It also provides important funding for advanced placement (AP) and science/math/technology (STEM) classes students need to prepare for the future.  Programs like orchestra, art, athletics, and after-school activities rely on this funding.

Your “Yes” vote supports student well-being. The EP&O levy funds counselors, psychologists, behavior supports, and the vast majority of school nurses.  Mental health and social emotional staff are both funded by the levy.

This keeps our tax rate the same. Your “Yes” vote means no tax increase and renews our commitment to our schools. Please vote Yes for our Bellevue students by renewing this EP&O Levy!

Submitted by: Charles Dyer, Chris Marks, Janice Zahn, BellevueQualitySchools.org

In 2018, the McCleary Decision was promised to be a levy swap. Instead, state school property taxes increased dramatically and local school taxes never went away and are again spiraling out of control.

For 2020-2021, for the district's administrators, the median total compensation was $181,972 with a high of $409,398. Median teacher compensation is at $133,716 up 31% in the last 3 years - multiple times inflation.

The argument that this levy is for a certain few duty types is disingenuous and heartless at best. The district complains that this levy fills the gap left from state legislators. The legislators are correct in saying no to the district. Local voters should do the same.

Nearly all districts try to just focus on how our property tax rates will remain nearly flat as if that has or will do us any favors. A flat tax rate multiplied by skyrocketing assessed property values equals skyrocketing taxes in dollars (paid for by property owners and renters in their rents). Please provide your input and vote. More details at, www.schooldataproject.com

Submitted by: Jeff Heckathorn, info@schooldataproject.com

The statement significantly overstates teacher and administration compensation and fails to address the substance of this levy. Funding from the McCleary Plan does not cover school nurses, counselors, extracurricular programs, or special education. Levies account for 20% of the operating spend for the district; failure would mean eliminating positions and programs.

The statement misunderstands state law. This state legislature allows districts to collect local levies to fill critical gaps in state funding. Please vote Yes.

Submitted by: Charles Dyer, Chris Marks, Janice Zahn, BellevueQualitySchools.org
 

In 2019-2020, per pupil expenditures (including capital outlays and interest on debt) for the district were already at $24,208. That's above tuition and books at many universities let alone most private K-12 schools.

In 2018, because of the McCleary Decision, state legislators pumped billions more dollars into our public schools, largely from increased property taxes. There is no amount of money monopoly school districts will be satisfied with. Citizens are crying uncle. Enough!

Submitted by: Jeff Heckathorn, info@schooldataproject.com

Download the full text of the resolution

Simple majority (Wash. Const. art. VII, sec. 2(a))

For questions about this measure, contact: Melissa C. Devita, Deputy Superintendent Finance and Operations, (425) 456-4025, devitam@bsd405.org