Seattle Schools to ask voters for $1.25 billion in levies

The Seattle School Board will go back to the voters in search of more money, voting unanimously Wednesday to place two new levies on the February ballot.

The two combined would cost voters $1.25 billion over six years, The Seattle Times reports.

A $695 million levy for school construction would pay for the district to build, remodel, or expand 13 schools to update aging facilities and ease overcrowding.

The money would also be used to update middle-school science labs, improve technology, provide wireless for every school, and improve earthquake protection.

The district also wants the money to improve technology, provide wireless for every school, update middle-school science labs, and improve earthquake protection at 37 buildings.

The second measure, a $552 million, three-year operations levy, would replace an existing levy that provides about 27 percent of the district’s annual budget, according to the Times.

The levies, taken together, are the largest ever requested. If both pass, the owners of a $400,000 house would pay an additional $135 to $160 each year in school taxes.

District leaders say they need the money to prepare for a projected 7,000 student increase over the next decade. But they argue the levies will do far more dollar-for-dollar than past levies. They also say the district faces aging buildings, inadequate core facilities, and other funding issues that need to be addressed now.

If approved, the levies would run through 2019.