King County logo
v1.0.0.1
Seattle School District No. 1

Proposition No. 2

Building Excellence Program (BEX) VI – Capital Levy

The Board of Directors of Seattle School District requests approval of a capital levy as described in Resolution No. 2024/25-4. The proposition replaces an expiring capital levy and authorizes the levy of excess taxes to fund BEX VI for safety and security, energy efficiency projects, construction or renovation at five schools, projects for building systems and major maintenance, and technology and other projects throughout the District:

 

Collection Years

Estimated Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value

Levy Amount

2026

$0.93

$300,000,000

2027

$0.90

$300,000,000

2028

$0.87

$300,000,000

2029

$0.84

$300,000,000

2030

$0.81

$300,000,000

2031

$0.79

$300,000,000

 

Should this proposition be approved?

 

Yes

No


Seattle Public Schools requests voter approval of a capital levy of $1.8 billion for the Building Excellence VI (BEX VI) Program. The proposed levy will replace an expiring levy.

 

Passage of Proposition No. 2 would allow the levy of taxes over a six-year period to make districtwide safety and security improvements, including door access hardware, cameras, emergency notification upgrades, as well as building condition and infrastructure improvements throughout the District including energy efficiency upgrades, roof replacements, mechanical systems, interior and exterior renovations. The levy funding will also construct, renovate, replace or make additions at up to five schools, including career and technical education classrooms. The levy funds approximately 90 percent of the district’s technology budget, including student technology and related staff training to ensure we meet today’s current and future educational needs.

 

The total amount to be collected will be $300 million in each year from 2026 to 2031. The estimated levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value will range from $0.93 for 2026 collections to $0.79 for 2031 collections. The exact levy rate will be adjusted based upon the actual assessed value of the property within the District at the time of the levy.

 

Exemptions from taxes may be available to certain homeowners. To determine if you qualify, call the King County Assessor at 206-296-7300.

Please vote Yes to renew this levy, which helps make sure our students are safe and our schools well maintained. The Capital Levy will make sure all students and teachers have a safe learning environment by retrofitting buildings for earthquake safety, improving fire alarms and school security systems, and making other critical safety investments. This levy also provides 90% of the money for technology, including student computers and classroom technology.      

The Capital Levy replaces an expiring Capital Levy and is dedicated to building safe and healthy learning places for our children. Many of our school buildings are over 50 years old and need renovation or replacement. The Capital Levy funds critical repairs and renovations across Seattle including major construction, renovation, or replacement of five schools. Every student and every school benefits!

 

This levy is not a new tax. It replaces the expiring Capital Levy. Please vote to renew our commitment to Seattle’s children.

 

Submitted by: Stephan Blanford, Dow Constantine, Samantha Fogg, www.seattleschoolsfirst.org

Seattle loves schools. Prop 2 closes them. Please vote "No" on Prop 2.

 

This BEX Capital levy builds mega-size schools to "consolidate" and close schools. That is not what the public wants. Request a levy rewrite by voting "No".

 

Please reject this levy so a better Capital levy can be written with three aims as follows. (1) Keep schools open and sparkling. (2) Set aside portions of Capital levy funds in bank accounts to generate interest which by state law (RCW 28A.320.320) can be used to help the District's separate Operating budget. (3) Shrink this $1.8 billion Capital levy to reduce taxes and make Seattle more affordable including for families. That would be a win, win, win.

 

Submitted by: Chris Jackins

The “Con” statement is wrong. Read the text for yourself; there is nothing in Prop. 2 that will close a single school or consolidate schools. In fact, Prop. 2 maintains, rebuilds and replaces aging existing school buildings, roofs, HVAC systems, technology and security systems districtwide.

 

“All Seattle kids, regardless of zip code, deserve safe and healthy schools and up-to-date technology. Let’s continue investing in their future success.” – State Senator Javier Valdez.

 

Submitted by: Stephan Blanford, Dow Constantine, Samantha Fogg, www.seattleschoolsfirst.org

Please vote "No" to tell the School Board: "Don't close schools." Vote "No" to request a levy rewrite.

 

Thank you.

 

Submitted by: Chris Jackins

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

For questions about this measure, contact: Dr. Kurt Buttleman, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, (206) 252-0086, krbuttleman@seattleschools.org

47 en-US Production

TTY: Relay 711

Sign up for email or text notifications