2004 Seattle Elections

Primary Elections Voters' Guide

Seattle Families and Education Levy

Ballot Title

The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed not less than forty- five days prior to September 14, 2004, to certify the proposition to the King County Director of Records and Elections in the following form or as modified by the City Attorney pursuant to RCW 29A.36.070:

THE CITY OF SEATTLE

PROPOSITION NUMBER _____
REGULAR TAX LEVY INCLUDING
FAMILIES AND EDUCATION

The City of Seattle's Proposition __ concerns funding services, including Educational and Developmental Services supporting academic achievement.

This proposition would fund City services, including preschool, early-childhood education, family support, family involvement, middle- school support, out-of-school activities, supporting high-risk youth, student health, program evaluation, and school-crossing guards, per Ordinance ____. This vote approves, for up to seven years, regular property taxes higher than the limits in Chapter 84.55 RCW, beginning with 2005 total regular taxes limited to $3.20/$1,000 assessed value. Not more than $16,684,000 per year ($116,788,000 total) can be collected for the Educational and Developmental Services.

Should this levy be approved?
Levy, Yes
Levy, No

Those in favor shall vote "Yes;" those opposed shall mark their ballots "No."

City Attorney's Explanatory Statement

City Attorney's Explanatory Statement for "Families and Education Levy" ballot measure placed on September 14, 2004, ballot.

Proposition __ approves a property tax increase totaling $116,788,000 over seven years. The funding provided through Proposition __ would be spent in nine major categories:

1. Preschool and early childhood education. Establish neighborhood-based early learning networks in low-income areas of the city to help children succeed in kindergarten.

2. Family support. Provide school-based family support functions for elementary schools.

3. Family involvement services. Support programs to increase family involvement in schools.

4. Middle school support. Provide school-based counseling and truancy/dropout prevention during school hours.

5. After-School activities. Support middle school academic after-school programs, athletics, and child care subsidies.

6. Support for high-risk, middle and high school age youth. Provide services for high-risk youth.

7. Student health services. Support school-based student health clinics and nurses.

8. Evaluation. Evaluate effectiveness of the above programs.

9. School crossing guards. Fund school crossing guards.

These are examples. Each year the City Council and Mayor will decide on the particular services, consistent with an implementation and evaluation plan approved by ordinance. Funding for the Seattle School District would be controlled by a Partnership Agreement approved by ordinance.

In 1990 and in 1997, Seattle voters approved "Families and Education Levy" property tax increases. Funds from the levies supported programs for children and their families both in and out of school. Each levy totaled $69,000,000 over seven years. The 1997 levy will expire by the end of 2004. Proposition __ approves the entire regular City property tax levy for seven years and if passed could exempt the City's property tax from future statewide tax-cutting initiatives.