2006 Seattle Elections

Primary Elections Voters' Guide

Initiative 88 - Funding for Seattle Schools - Complete Text

Text of Initiative Measure No. 88

WHEREAS an educated citizenry is essential to the continued prosperity and welfare of the City of Seattle; and

WHEREAS an urgent need exists to establish the long-term fiscal viability of the Seattle School System to accelerate student achievement for all of its diverse student populations;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE as follows:

Section 1. Legislative Findings

a. Providing City services, including the educational programs described in this initiative, is a City purpose.

b. An urgent need exists to continue the provision of City services, including the educational services funded with regular property taxes, and its urgency requires submission to the qualified electors of the City of Seattle of a measure authorizing regular property tax levies in excess of the limitations in RCW Chapter 84.55, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, for up to six years, at a special election to be held in conjunction with a general election or primary.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this measure, the following words when capitalized have the following meanings:

a. "City" means City of Seattle.

b. "People" means the people of the City of Seattle.

Section 3. Lift of Levy Lids for Regular Property Taxes-Authority

The People have vested the legislative powers of the City in a Mayor and City Council, but the People have reserved to themselves independent of the Mayor and the City Council the power to propose for themselves measures dealing with any matter within the realm of local affairs or municipal business. That power includes the use of an initiative petition to submit to the qualified electors of the City a measure as authorized by RCW 84.55.050 to exceed the limitations of regular property taxes contained in RCW Chapter 84.55, as it now exists or may hereinafter be amended.

Section 4. Lift of Levy Lids for Regular Property Taxes-Amount

The limitations on regular property taxes contained in Chapter 84.55 RCW, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, for property taxes levied in 2007 though 2012, for collection in 2008 through 2013, respectively. For taxes levied in 2007 for collection in 2008 the tax rate shall be limited to $ 3.27 per $1,000 assessed value. For taxes levied in 2008 though 2012, that portion of the levy to be used for the purposes described herein may increase annually by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI")-U for Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton. Pursuant to RCW 84.55.050(4), the maximum regular property taxes that may be levied in 2013 for collection in 2014 and later years shall be computed as if the levy lid in RCW 84.55.010 had not been lifted under this initiative.

The limitations on regular property taxes shall be lifted only for the educational purposes set forth in the Great Schools Educational Funding Initiative enacted by the City or submitted to the voters contemporaneously with this measure.

Section 5. Election - Ballot Title

The Ballot Title for this measure shall be as follows or as modified by the City Attorney pursuant to RCW 29A.36.070:

This measure approves for up to six (6) years, regular property taxes higher than the limits of Chapter 84.55 RCW for educational purposes only. For taxes levied in 2007, for collection in 2008, the regular levy rate shall be limited to $ 3.27 per $1,000 assessed value. Tax levies for 2008 through 2012 may increase annually by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI")-U for Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton. For taxes levied in 2013 and later years, the maximum tax levy shall be computed as if the levy lid had not been lifted by this measure.

Section 6. Severability

In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this ordinance or the levy of the taxes authorized herein but this ordinance and the authority to levy those taxes shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid provisions had not been contained herein; and any provision which shall for any reason be held by reason of its extent to be invalid shall be deemed to be in effect to the extent permitted by law.

Section 7. Effective Date

This measure shall be effective upon proclamation of the Mayor within five (5) days after the election at which it is approved by the People.

Text of Resolution Placing I-88 on the Ballot

A RESOLUTION regarding Initiative No. 88; requesting that the King County Division of Records and Elections call a special municipal election to coincide with the primary election to be held on September 19, 2006 and place Initiative No. 88 before the qualified electors of the City of Seattle on the September 2006 ballot.

WHEREAS, proponents submitted to the Office of the City Clerk a ballot measure petition regarding a proposed property tax levy lid lift (which the City Clerk designated as Initiative No. 88 in Clerk File No. 307964; and,

WHEREAS, proponents also submitted to the Office of the City Clerk another ballot measure petition providing that the City provide to the School District additional funding for educational programs in an amount that is not less than the additional regular property tax levy amount authorized by the levy lift (which the City Clerk designated as Initiative No. 87 in Clerk File No. 307973); and,

WHEREAS, the Office of the City Clerk forwarded both petitions to the King County Division of Records and Elections for certification whether either or both petitions bear a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify for introduction to the City Council as provided in City Charter Article IV, Section 1; and,

WHEREAS, King County Division of Records and Elections has certified that Initiative No. 88 petitions bore sufficient valid signatures to qualify for introduction to the City Council as provided in Seattle City Charter, Article IV; and,

WHEREAS, Initiative No. 88, as a proposed levy lid lift, must be approved by the qualified electors of the City of Seattle in order to take effect; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle filed a Declaratory Judgment action in King County Superior Court requesting a declaration that Initiative No. 87 exceeds the scope of the initiative power and is inconsistent with the state budget laws for first class cities; and,

WHEREAS, the City does not expect a decision from the Superior Court regarding Initiative No. 87 until at least August 25, 2006;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The City requests, in form of this resolution, that King County call a special municipal election to coincide with the September 2006 primary election and place Initiative No. 88 before the qualified electors of the City of Seattle on the September 2006 ballot.

Section 2. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to take those actions necessary to place Initiative No. 88 before the voters at the September 2006 election.

Section 3. The City Attorney has prepared the following ballot title for Initiative No. 88. The City Clerk is authorized to transmit this ballot title to the King County Division of Records and Elections.

Seattle Initiative Measure No. 88 concerns tax levies to fund the Seattle School District’s educational programs.

Section 4. The Executive Director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission is authorized and directed to take those actions necessary to place information regarding Initiative No. 88 in the September 2006 voters’ pamphlet.

Section 5. Actions taken prior to the adoption of this resolution that are consistent with it are hereby ratified and confirmed.