Vote Yes! For Our Schools and Our Kids by
November 2, 2010

Thank you, Seattle!

On November 2, voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. 1, The Seattle School Levy!

This levy throws a lifeline to our schools and our kids.  Funds will help to restore just some of the funding cuts made to our schools, so our kids don’t get shortchanged.  Thank you!

Why a school levy is needed

The State has cut more than $32 million from Seattle schools since 2008, and our schools are faced with a $32.8 million gap for the 2011-2012 school year.  With Washington State facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall, all indications are that even more cuts are on the way.

What the school levy will support:

The levy will restore a portion of the funding cut from our schools, and help insure our kids get the basic education they deserve.  These funds will be used to:

• Purchase textbooks and basic classroom materials for elementary music, middle school language arts, and high school social studies and science;
• Support our teachers with increased collaboration time, career ladders, and an updated teacher evaluation process;
• Reduce the number and severity of cuts to educational programs and services.

How levy funds will be raised:

To help limit the devastating impact state cuts to education would have on our schools, the legislature changed the law so school districts could ask citizens to help fill the funding gap.  Schools are asking Seattle voters to approve a 3-year, $48.2 million levy that will be on the November ballot.  These funds will only partially restore recent funding cuts to education.

Based on current assessed valuation information, estimated levy rates will be $0.11 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2011, and $0.12 per $1,000 in 2012 – 2013.  The owner of a $400,000 home will pay about $48 per year over the next three years to support critical programs – a small price to support Seattle’s kids. 

Your “YES” vote will throw a lifeline to Seattle students – please vote “YES” for the School Levy this November!

Votes in support of the levy must be postmarked no later than 8:00pm on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.  Don’t forget to sign the voter oath on the back of the return envelope to make sure that your ballot is processed!  Click here for ballot drop box locations throughout King County.