Important Levy on the Special Elections Ballot (Feb 9)

The Seattle School Board voted to place a $442.7 million operations levy and a $270 million capital levy (BTA III) on the Feb. 9 special election ballot. How important is this? Critical. Seattle Council PTSA Board endorses both levies.

Both are renewals. The operations levy covers about one-quarter of our schools’ budgets and supports educational services not fully funded by the state, including the sixth hour in middle and high school; libraries and textbooks; and competitive salaries for staff … The capital levy (BTA III) funds building repairs, maintenance and upgrades. It pays for such items as new roofs, playfields and science labs. The BTA III also includes money needed to reopen schools in oversubscribed areas, build facilities for on-site preschools, and open a skills center for vocational students. 100 percent of our capital budget comes from BTA and BEX levies.