2022 Bond

• Previous school bonds replaced aging schools for students in Des Moines and Burien. The 2022 bond would replace aging schools in SeaTac and White Center so students across our district have safe and modern places to learn. 
   
• The designs for new schools at Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific were funded by the 2016 bond.
   
• The 2022 bond would pay for replacing these aging schools and making critical repairs districtwide without raising the current tax rate due to expiring taxes.
   
• The 2016 bond projects were completed $10 million under budget—this savings is being applied to the costs of the 2022 projects, decreasing the cost to taxpayers.
   

• Approval of this bond would trigger $34 million in additional funding. The funds would come from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port of Seattle for noise mitigation, and from the state School Construction Assistance Program.

• While building costs have increased since the previous bond in 2016, postponing school construction is unlikely to result in cost savings. The cost of building materials and supply chain challenges are increasing construction costs. Waiting longer to build may result in increased construction costs and design changes.

The $17 million fund for critical capital needs and improvements in the 2022 bond package includes projects such as:

• Emergency repairs
• Roof restoration and remedial repairs
• Exterior and interior finish improvements (e.g. painting)
• Replacing the Sylvester Middle School dirt field with synthetic turf
• Replacing Transportation Building L
• Providing space for Highline Virtual Academy
• Maritime High School - Highline Public Schools contribution

Highline has a 20-year track record of on-time, on-budget construction. The three new schools built with funding from the last bond were completed on time and $10 million under budget.  We are committed to continuing this positive momentum until all students are learning in modern facilities.

*School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) - state funding

• The bond will not raise your current tax rate, due to expiring school taxes. A priority for our volunteer-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee is to keep tax rates stable. This bond measure aligns with that priority.
   
• The 2023 estimated tax rate for the capital bond funding measure would be $0.74 per $1,000 of assessed value. 
   
• For all local levies (including operating and bond levies), the total estimated tax rate for 2023 would be $4.40, which is equal to the current 2022 rate in Highline. 
   

• The bond would raise $518,397,000; the amount is capped. The district would collect that amount, but not more. If property values go up more than projected, the tax percentage rate goes down per $1,000 of value.

• Exemptions from taxes may be available to certain homeowners. For more information, please call the King County Department of Assessments at (206) 296-3920.

Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific were built quickly and inexpensively during a period of spiking enrollment. Renovation of older buildings is expensive and often results in unforeseen costs. New facilities offer modern safety features such as limited entry points.

The Capital Projects Oversight Committee are community members and industry experts who ensure accountability on school construction projects. They have been meeting at least quarterly since 2017, shortly after the 2016 bond projects began.

To learn more please visit our School Funding web page.