2021 Levy

The November 2021 levy renews funding for educational programs so all Highline students have equitable opportunities to succeed in school. Voters approved the levy renewal at a rate of 62.5%.

What does the levy pay for? 

Levy dollars pay for needs not fully funded by the state, such as:

High-quality instruction

The levy pays for the support and training our teachers and instructional assistants need to provide students with high-quality instruction.
 

Academic and social-emotional support for students

The pandemic disrupted students’ lives and education. The levy ensures that our students get academic support to be on track for the next grade level. It funds counselors and social workers who support students’ social-emotional needs.
 

Health and Safety 

The levy funds nurses and other staff not fully funded by the state. (State funding pays for only three school nurses to serve our entire district; levy funding pays for 16 more nurses who serve medically fragile students as well as general health and safety needs.)

Student opportunities  

The levy funds broad course offerings for high school students, including advanced courses.
 

Cost Information

The levy is not a new tax. It renews an expiring tax that provides local funding for critical needs not covered by state and federal funding. 

Our levy makes up 13 percent of our current revenue. Levy failure would have meant significant reductions in staff, programs, and services for students.

• The tax rate for the current levy is $2.03 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
• The proposed tax rate is $1.98 per $1000 of assessed value, starting in 2023. The rate decreases over the four-year life of the levy to $1.88 in 2026. 

Revenue for Schools

Local funding pays for staff positions, such as teachers, instructional assistants, nurses and social workers, as well as academic support, including advanced high school courses.

The proposed levy allows the district to collect approximately $50 million a year from 2023-2026, for a total of $208.5 million over four years. This is the amount our district is allowed to collect under current law.

The levy authorizes the district to collect a maximum of $268 million over the four years ONLY if the state Legislature should increase local levy caps during that time. The school board would have to vote on the increase and give the public the opportunity for input.

Frequently Asked Questions