Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The levy will provide $208.5 million for educational needs not fully funded by the state. This is the amount Highline is allowed to collect under current law.

The funds will be collected over four years:

• 2023 -- $50,610,580
• 2024 -- $51,524,802
• 2025 -- $52,513,509
• 2026 -- $53,863,612

The state has capped the amount school districts can collect from taxpayers. The amount Highline is allowed to collect is shown in the table above in the Revenue section of this web page.

From time to time, the state Legislature cuts education funding and allows school districts to offset cuts by increasing their levy amounts. This measure would allow the district to collect additional funds if the Legislature allows it. 

The school board would have to vote to increase collections. The public would have an opportunity for input before the vote.

This is insurance to protect critical student services from potential cuts.

“Equitable course offerings” refers to Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and other advanced courses that can be taken for college credit. In the past, our smaller high schools (Tyee and Evergreen) have not had as robust a slate of advanced courses as our larger high schools. We have used levy money for the past several years to expand these course offerings at all four comprehensive high schools to ensure schedules are comparable and equitable across the district.

In November 2020, Highline voters approved a two-year, $32.5 million technology levy by 73.6 percent of the vote. The tech levy allowed us to provide every student with a digital device and internet connection so they could continue learning during the pandemic.  

The tech levy did not replace our education levy, which funds other critical academic, emotional, health and safety needs, including additional teachers, instructional aides and other staff, like counselors and social workers, not fully funded by the state.

School districts are receiving federal COVID relief dollars through the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Act (ESSER) to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. These are not ongoing funds. They are one-time funds to cover expenses associated with the pandemic. There are restrictions on how ESSER funds can be spent. For example, the funds cannot be used for salary increases or other ongoing expenses.

A portion of the property taxes that used to go directly to local schools now go to the state. The state then redistributes those dollars back to school districts. Local districts can still ask taxpayers for a levy, but for a much smaller amount.

We continue to ask voters to renew our smaller educational levies. We ask for significantly less money than prior to state funding changes passed in 2017, but levy funding is still critical to pay for important needs not yet fully funded by the state.

The state Legislature increased state property taxes in 2018 with the intent of lowering the local portion of school taxes, not eliminating them. This is step in the right direction, but it is not a perfect solution. Here’s why:

The state money must be spent in very specific ways.  Those restrictions eliminate much of our local control for programs our community wants in schools.

Some districts can ask voters for more money per student than others.  This is not an equitable solution because some districts will generate more funding than others.

The state is not covering the full cost of staff pay and benefits, special education, transportation, teacher training, counselors and social workers, school nurses, and other critical needs.

Our levy pays for critical needs not yet fully funded by the state. Some examples are:

• 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.

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

• Health and safety. The levy funds nurses and other staff not fully funded by the state.

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

Levy failure would have meant significant reductions in staff, programs, and services for students.

If property values go up, the tax rate is adjusted downward. The school district cannot collect more than the amount approved by voters. Increases in property values do not generate more revenue for the school district.

Low-income seniors and people with disabilities may qualify for an exemption. To apply for this exemption, call the King County Tax Exemptions Office at 206-296-3920 or visit the King County website.

Levies are for learning. Levies raise funds for educating students and operating schools. When voters approve a levy, they are agreeing to pay taxes to fund these services.

Bonds are for building. Bonds pay for capital facilities needs. When voters approve a bond measure, it allows the school district to borrow money for facilities improvements. The district issues bonds to raise the money up front. Similar to a home mortgage, the district repays the money (plus interest) in installments over time. Bond dollars can only be used for capital improvements.