House OKs lower school levy bar

OLYMPIA – With rhetoric that pitted overtaxed homeowners against under-funded schools, the state House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill that could make it easier for schools to raise local tax dollars.

“It’s easier to build an arena or a prison than it is to build a public school,” said Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, the prime sponsor of House Resolution 4204.

Critics say they’re leery of making it any easier to raise property taxes, even for schools.

“If you like your property taxes today, wait until this bill passes,” Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, said shortly before the vote. “You’ll love the property taxes you’re going to get.”

By itself, the measure – which would still have to be approved by the Senate and governor – wouldn’t raise taxes. Instead, it would ask all voters in November whether the state should do away with a decades-old rule that forces school districts to get approval from a 60 percent “supermajority” of voters in order to boost the tax levy more than 1 percent a year.

The change would require amending the state constitution. But if voters agree in November, the 60 percent standard would instead return to the usual tipping point in an election: 50 percent plus 1 vote.

Proponents say schools shouldn’t be held to a higher standard than nearly any other decision voters make. And they say that when levies fail – often with well over 50 percent of the vote – it’s a morale-sapping loss that threatens to shortchange the state’s highest duty.

“This debate is something that the public should be involved in,” said Rep. Bill Eickmeyer, D-Belfair. “I trust the judgment of the public.”

Monday’s vote turns up pressure on the state Senate, where Democratic leaders recently tried and failed – barely – to pass a nearly identical measure. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, has said the Senate might try again before the session ends April 22. For several years, the measure has passed the House, only to quietly die in the Senate.

“I’m starting to feel like Charlie Brown and the proverbial football,” said Schual-Berke, who has sponsored identical bills at least three times.

In the House on Monday, Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards, noted that voters have repeatedly weighed in on the 60 percent rule since it was first approved as an initiative in 1932. “They always voted to retain the 60 percent,” she said. “Are we sending it back to them because we don’t like their answer? They’ve given us their answer.”

Schual-Berke said voters haven’t been asked to do away with the 60 percent rule since 1944. They voted on related measures in 1972 and 1985.

“I think 63 years is enough time,” said Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia. “We need to let the voters decide and put this issue to bed.”

Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, countered that the 60 percent standard forces school officials to win broad consensus from the communities they rely on.

If the Legislature sends the matter to voters, both sides predict a fierce election campaign. Schual-Berke said she’s “not at all” sure that voters would approve lowering the hurdle. It depends on how well schools can explain that levies affect librarians, teachers, extracurricular activities, technology and other aspects of education that most voters support, she said. “If they reject it, I think that’s it, we’re done,” Schual-Berke said.