Levies and Bonds

A levy is a local property tax collected by school districts to help finance the educational programs and operations of schools that are not fully funded by the state.  The funds provided by the EP&O levy accounts for roughly 13 percent of Tukwila School District’s annual general operating budget.

Propositions 1 and 2 will renew expiring levies approved by voters in 2020 and will provide services that are not funded or are not fully funded by the state.  Proposition 1 is the educational programs and operations (“EP&O”) levy that supports student success by funding day-to-day educational programs, extracurricular activities and operations. Proposition 2 is the technology and capital levy to ensure students and teachers have access to technology and training to prepare students for the future and provides for improvements in facilities and sites to provide quality learning environments.

No, the District’s budget includes state funding, local property tax levy dollars, and other local and federal monies.  The local EP&O levy funds roughly 13 percent of the annual general operating budget.  ‘Fully funded’ from the state’s perspective does not include educational and extracurricular programs such as band, music and art at elementary schools, world languages at middle schools, and other opportunities that Tukwila students, families and community believe are essential.  Local dollars also fund special education, transportation and other programs and costs that are not fully funded by the state. The current EP&O levy will expire at the end of 2024.

No.  These two levies replace or ‘renew’ the current levies that expire at the end of 2024.

If these levies are passed, the estimated four-year average combined bond, EP&O and capital property tax rate per $1,000 will go from $3.80 to $3.39, which is an estimated reduction of $.41.  The estimated average total property tax rates for the 2020-23 is $3.80.  The estimated average total property tax rates for the 2024-28 is $3.39. These assessed tax rates include the cost of the bonds that were previously approved by voters in 2016 for the modernization of our schools.

The Technology and Capital Levy renewal is estimated to cost homeowners $0.75 per $1,000 Assessed Property Value in 2025 to 2028. A home owner in Tukwila with a $500,000 appraised property value will pay $375 a year, or $31.25 a month [$500,000 X $0.75 / 1,000 = $375].

Tukwila has a large commercial tax base that reduces the amount of property taxes homeowners would otherwise pay.  For example, the District’s largest taxpayers are primarily represented by real estate developers and the Westfield Shopping Mall.  The top twenty-two taxpayers comprised 25% of the District’s total assessed value in 2023.

Under certain conditions, people with disabilities or senior citizens are eligible for a tax exemption. For more information and to apply for an exemption, contact the King County Assessor’s Office for information, 206 296-3920.

All registered voters residing within the Tukwila School District are eligible to vote on these two renewal levies.

Visit the King County Elections Website to learn how you can register online, by mail or in-person.

February 13, 2024 is the date ballots must be mailed or returned to a ballot drop box.