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Note: Numbers are likely to change during negotiations on the budget.
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Click here for impact of the Education Equality Act’s on property taxes in every school district, updated March 21, 2017
On February 1, 2017 the Senate responded to the McCleary school funding lawsuit by passing one of the most sweeping education reforms in our state’s history. The bill is known as the Education Equality Act, or SB 5607. Its main sponsor is the Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Senator John Braun (R-Centralia).
McCleary is the 2012 state supreme court decision which requires the legislature to make “ample provision” for the schools by means of dependable and regular revenue sources. The decision also requires the legislature to reduce its reliance on local levy funding for the schools.
The Education Equality Act would reform local levies by replacing them with a uniform statewide property tax levy that is the same, fair and equal, across the entire state. Right now, funding levels for school districts vary significantly. High property value districts, typically in urban areas, are able to generate more revenue with relatively low levy rates. Other districts with low property values, pay comparatively higher rates that raise much smaller amounts of money.
The Education Equality Act would mean a property tax reduction to many school districts in Pierce County. If this Act is passed by the legislature and approved by voters this fall, property taxes in these five districts would change, as reflected in the following chart.
These numbers are no longer current. For updated numbers, click on the link above to find numbers for all school districts, updated on March 21, 2017.
School District | Proposed per pupil funding 2019 | Current per student funding | Increase in per student funding | 2016 local levy rate | 2019 New levy rate | Change in levy rate | Property tax savings for average homeowner |
Bethel | $12,557 | $11,770 | $788 | 4.57 | 1.80 | (2.77) | $491 |
Clover Park | $14,322 | $13,347 | $975 | 4.31 | 1.80 | (2.51) | $505 |
Steilacoom | $12,500 | $11,314 | $1186 | 2.66 | 1.80 | (.86) | $216 |
Tacoma | $14,226 | $13,695 | $532 | 4.29 | 1.80 | (2.49) | $501 |
University Place | $12,500 | $11,590 | $910 | 4.76 | 1.80 | (2.96) | $818 |
Source: Rep. Dick Muri’s legislative update on education funding reform 2/17/17: https://dickmuri.houserepublicans.wa.gov/2017/02/17/muri-legislative-update-education-funding/.