{"id":2383968,"date":"2024-12-27T12:03:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T17:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proposed-legislation-would-make-it-easier-to-pass-school-construction-bonds-in-wa-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-27T12:05:50","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T17:05:50","slug":"proposed-legislation-would-make-it-easier-to-pass-school-construction-bonds-in-wa-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proposed-legislation-would-make-it-easier-to-pass-school-construction-bonds-in-wa-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Proposed legislation would make it easier to pass school construction bonds in WA &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fproposed-legislation-would-make-it-easier-to-pass-school-construction-bonds-in-wa-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2383968&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Proposed\u200c legislation in\u2062 Washington aims to ease the process of passing\u2063 school construction \u2064bonds,which currently necessitate a 60% supermajority \u200bfor approval.In contrast, school levies onyl require\u2064 a simple majority. This effort comes as supporters highlight that\u200c Washington\u200b is among ten\u200c states with a higher than 50% voter approval \u2064requirement for school bonds. These bonds are essential for financing various capital projects, including new school construction, \u200dproperty purchases, \u200dand \u2064updates to existing facilities, funded through\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">local property tax collections<\/a>. The new legislation\u2063 would seek to decrease the threshold for \u2062approval, making it more \u200cfeasible to secure necessary funding for schools.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Proposed legislation would make it easier to pass school construction bonds in WA<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1921802\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Supporters of lowering the threshold for passing a school bond measure will try again in the upcoming legislative session in Washington.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>According to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edweek.org\/leadership\/map-how-much-voter-support-schools-need-to-fix-their-buildings-by-state\/2023\/10\">Education Week<\/a><\/strong>, Washington is one of 10 states in the country that require greater than 50% approval to pass school bonds.<\/p>\n<p>Bonds provide funding for capital projects, including the purchase of property for a new school, the construction of buildings, or the modernization of existing schools. Bonds are sold to investors and repaid with interest over time from local property tax collections.<\/p>\n<p>School levies only require a simple majority for passage. In Washington,&nbsp;most levy dollars are spent on staff compensation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bonds require a supermajority &ndash; 60% &ndash; to pass and require voter turnout of at least 40% of the voters who cast a ballot in the last general election.<\/p>\n<p>Six other states also require 60% approval for school bond measures, while Idaho requires two-thirds approval for passage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Because of the higher threshold, many districts have a tough time getting bond measures approved, often putting them before voters multiple times over several years without success.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have wanted the bond passage threshold dropped to 50%, as many districts can get support from a simple majority of voters, as opposed to the more difficult supermajority threshold.<\/p>\n<p>For example, on the Nov. 5 ballot, Issaquah voters were asked to approve a $642.3 million School Modernization and Construction Bond. About 50.08% of voters approved the measure, short of the 60% required for passage.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, voters in the overcrowded Sumner Bonney-Lake School District approved a $732 million bond measure, with 64.02% of voters saying yes to Proposition 1. This is the largest bond measure approval in the state. Of the 14 bonds statewide, only four <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-dems-fail-to-rebrand-as-party-that-protects-children\/\" title=\"California Dems Fail To Rebrand As Party That Protects Children\">school districts passed<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As reported&nbsp;by&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_a5d61c7c-b4aa-11ee-a4ea-0b0ff0b8c8fb.html\">The Center Square<\/a><\/strong>, during the 2024 legislative session, Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, sponsored a compromise measure to lower the threshold for approval of a school bond from 60% to 55%.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Evergreen School Board passed in 2018 a $695 million bond,&rdquo; Harri said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tvw.org\/video\/house-education-2024011314\/?eventID=2024011314\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>during<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;a House Education Committee hearing in January. &ldquo;We have beautiful schools in the Evergreen School District. Impeccable. [The Stevenson-Carson School District] still has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">lead-based paint<\/a> in their schools, they have a heating system that doesn&rsquo;t work, and they have no air conditioning. The disparity is huge.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, co-sponsored the 2024 bill.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I became a teacher because I believe in public education as the equalizer of inequities in our society and in a way to make sure every child has an opportunity to have the strongest footing possible,&rdquo; she said during the hearing.<\/p>\n<p>The bill did not make it out of committee, but Stonier isn&rsquo;t giving up, pre-filing legislation in the form of&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov\/biennium\/2025-26\/Pdf\/Bills\/House%20Bills\/1032.pdf?q=20241226101144\">House Bill 1032<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;for the upcoming session. HB 1032 would amend the state constitution to allow passage of school bonds with a simple majority of just over 50%.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents of lowering the threshold argue burdening taxpayers with multi-decade bond obligations should be a heavy lift.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re asking voters to pay for a school bond for 20 to 30 years,&rdquo; argued Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a long-term commitment. The answer is not to change the standard. The answer is to build a better case for the voters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 legislative session begins on Jan. 13.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1921802\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1921802\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Proposed legislation aims to simplify passing school bonds in WA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2383969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160623172-1-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4762,47471,4086],"class_list":["post-2383968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-legislation","tag-school-construction","tag-washington"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160623172-1-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2383968"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383972,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383968\/revisions\/2383972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2383968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2383968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2383968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}