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Seattle Public Schools, Washington, Proposition 2, Capital Levy Renewal (February 2022)
| Seattle Public Schools Proposition 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date February 8, 2022 | |
| Topic Local property tax and Local school tax | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
Seattle Public Schools Proposition 2 was on the ballot as a referral in Seattle Public Schools on February 8, 2022. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported renewing the capital levy for six years generating a total of $783 million. |
A "no" vote opposed renewing the capital levy for six years, thereby allowing it to expire in 2022. |
A simple majority was required for the approval of Proposition 2.
Election results
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Seattle Public Schools Proposition 2 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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123,464 | 79.05% | ||
| No | 32,722 | 20.95% | ||
Overview
Proposition 2 renewed for six years the "Building, Technology, and Academics/Athletics (BTA) Capital Levy" set to expire in 2022. The tax rate for 2023 was $47 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The revenue from the levy funds 85% of the school district's technology department. The levy also funds school building renovations, seismic retrofitting, and athletic and academic programs. The total revenue from the renewed levy was expected to be $783 million over six years.[1]
Seattle Public Schools last approved the capital levy in 2019 with the passage of Proposition 2 by a margin of 72.55% to 27.45%.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Proposition 2 was as follows:
| “ | The Board of Directors of Seattle School District No. 1 requests approval of a capital levy as described in Resolution No. 2021/22-7. The proposition replaces an expiring capital levy and authorizes the levy of excess taxes to fund the Buildings, Technology and Academics/Athletics V Program for earthquake and safety projects, energy efficiency upgrades, interior and exterior renovations, technology infrastructure improvements, modernization of athletic fields and other projects throughout the District.
Should this proposition be approved?
[ ] Yes [ ] No | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ |
Seattle Public Schools requests voter approval of a capital levy of $783.0 million for the Buildings, Technology, Academics/Athletics V (BTA V) Program. The proposed levy will replace an expiring capital levy. Passage of Proposition No. 2 would allow the levy of taxes over a six year period to pay for modernizing educational facilities throughout the District including fire safety, earthquake, air quality and security improvements, electric vehicle accommodations, energy efficiency upgrades, sustainable technology retrofit, roof replacements, mechanical systems, interior and exterior renovations, life safety and ADA compliance, improvements to drinking water quality, student accessibility to technology, the construction, remodeling and modernization of athletic fields and facilities, including, but not limited to, Memorial Stadium, and implementation of training and other measures throughout the district to meet the current and future educational needs of its students. The total amount to be collected will be $130.5 million annually in the years 2023 through 2028, inclusive. The estimated levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value will range from $0.47 per one thousand for 2023 collections to $0.37 per one thousand for 2028 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. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Support
Schools First led the campaign in support of Proposition 2.[2]
Arguments
- Rachel Smith, Dow Constantine, and Javier Valdez of Schools First submitted the following arguments to King County Elections: "Vote Yes to Maintain Our Schools! Please vote to Renew this important Seattle Public Schools Capital Levy. This levy will continue funding for building projects, technology projects, and academic/athletic projects throughout the district. To do well academically, our students must have safe, healthy learning spaces in modern facilities. The Capital Levy replaces an expiring levy and will make sure that students and teachers have safe learning environments by modernizing fire alarm and school security systems, renovating HVAC systems to deliver healthy air, making clean energy investments, enhancing earthquake protection, funding science labs, and replacing roofs and heating systems. It also funds investments in new grandstands and upgraded systems for Memorial Stadium. It will provide needed technology upgrades to provide equitable access to computers and internet. Finally, it will reduce maintenance and repair backlogs. Every student benefits and every school benefits from this levy! 'All Seattle kids, regardless of zip code, deserve safe and healthy schools. Let’s continue investing in their future success.' – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. The Capital Levy is not a new tax. It replaces an expiring levy. Please vote Yes on the Seattle Schools Capital Levy to renew our commitment to Seattle’s children."[3]
- Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis said, "These levies contain a significant amount of support for the families and young people of the city. These are critical improvements to modernize things that we have come to rely on in the COVID era, including HVAC systems, as well as critical safety components like fire alarms. … The state of Washington is insufficient, programmatically, for the needs of our school district. … [These levies] provide critical support for staff that are absolutely essential to the education experience and for the care of young people during the school day like nurses, custodians, and other critical support staff."[4]
Opposition
Arguments
Chris Jackins submitted the following arguments to King County Elections:[3]
| “ | A 'No' vote is a vote to save Memorial Stadium, a living tribute to World War II veterans: this Capital levy would demolish Memorial Stadium. And this levy is a gigantic 64% increase from the 2016 levy. ($783 million versus $475.3 million.) Please vote 'No' on Proposition 2.
A 'No' vote is a vote to save historic Rainier Beach High School. This levy adds to demolition plans for Rainier Beach, which was supposed to be saved and modernized like Garfield, Cleveland, Roosevelt, Franklin, and West Seattle. The District's 2014 Meng report notes Rainier Beach has been 'extremely well maintained.' A 'No' vote is a vote for instruction by teachers not machines. (Technology': $270 million). Remember when teachers used to recommend that students watch less TV? This levy does the opposite: it worships screen time. Instead, students need physical books and human teachers. A 'No' vote is a 'green' vote. This levy will cut down trees (remember the clear-cut of Ingraham's trees?), shrink playground space (remember the shrunken playgrounds at Loyal Heights, Thornton Creek, Northgate?), and replace natural grass with plastic grass (Jane Addams' last natural grass field would go). Questions? Please contact Chris Jackins, P.O. Box 84063, Seattle 98124.[5] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing body of Seattle Public Schools.
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Washington
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Washington.
| How to cast a vote in Washington | |||||
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Poll timesWashington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.[6] Registration
To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age.[7] One may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at a county elections department. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through Election Day.[8] In 2018, Washington lawmakers enacted legislation providing for same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration.[9] Automatic registrationWashington automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, health benefit exchange, and other state agencies approved by the governor.[9] Online registration
Washington has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registrationWashington allows same-day voter registration.[9] Residency requirementsWashington law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[7] Verification of citizenshipWashington does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who knowingly provides false information or knowingly make a false declaration about their qualifications "will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."[10] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[11] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe site Vote WA, run by the Washington Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsWashington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law RCW 29A.40.160, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.”[12] The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Seattle Schools, "Levies Information 2022," accessed February 3, 2022
- ↑ Schools First, "Home," accessed February 3, 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 King County Elections, "Seattle School District No. 1, Proposition No. 2," accessed February 3, 2022
- ↑ My Northwest, "Seattle council urges school levy support ahead of February special elections," January 19, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, “Frequently Asked Questions on Voting by Mail,” accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Washington Secretary of State, "Voter Eligibility," accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Voter registration deadlines," accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 The Hill, "Wash. gov signs universal voter registration law," March 20, 2018
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Washington State Voter Registration Form," accessed November 2, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "RCW 29A.40.160," accessed October 9, 2025
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