Liv Finne states that school officials should be required to provide the public with true and complete information about the real cost of approving school bonds
Liv Finne
Washington Policy Center
At next month’s election, administrators at seven school districts are asking local voters to pass more school bond debt.
In 2020 a number of school districts made a similar request, but administrators hid the true cost of what they were proposing. These research findings are reported in our Policy Note, here.
It appears to be happening again. Six of the seven school construction proposals on the November ballot are misleading the public by suggesting tax rates will stay fixed, and will not change in the future. For example, page 117 of the current Pierce County Voters Pamphlet says the cost of the school construction bond for Fife Schools will be $0.67 per thousand of assessed value, $201 a year for a $300,000 home, or about $4,000 over 20 years.
The actual full and true cost of the Fife school bond measure, if approved by voters, will be nearly four times higher, about $15,538 over 20 years. See Calculator | The School Data Project and BondNo – Fife SD.
The online School Data calculator shows the full cost of the proposed school construction bonds, at https://schooldataproject.com/report_levies_20231107.
Here is the full, true and accurate cost of the school construction bonds which administrators have failed to disclose to the public:
Fife School District. Taxpayers who own property valued at $300,000 will pay a total of $15,538 in principal and interest over 20 years if voters approve the $205 million school bond measure.
- Fife taxpayers will repay the $205 million principal amount, plus an additional $125 million in interest.
Enumclaw School District. Taxpayers who own property valued at $600,000 will pay $12,376 in principal and interest over 15 years if voters approve the $103 million school bond measure.
- Enumclaw taxpayers will repay the $103 million principal amount, plus an additional $51 million in interest.
Hood Canal School District. Taxpayers who own property valued at $350,000 in 2023 will pay $9,971 in principal and interest over 20 years if voters approve the $34 million school bond measure.
- Hood Canal taxpayers will repay the $34 million principal amount, plus an additional $21 million in interest.
Napavine School District. Taxpayers who own property valued at $400,000 will pay $19,065 in principal and interest over 26 years if voters approve the $19 million school bond measure.
- Napavine taxpayers will repay the $19 million principal amount, plus an additional $19 million in interest.
South Kitsap School District. Taxpayers who own property valued at $600,000 will pay $19,654 in principal and interest over 22 years if voters approve the $271 million school bond measure.
- South Kitsap taxpayers will repay the $271 million principal amount, plus an additional $188 million in interest.
South Whidbey School District. Taxpayers who own property valued at $625,000 will pay $12,102 in principal and interest over 20 years if voters approve the $79.8 million school bond measure.
- South Whidbey taxpayers will repay the $79.8 million principal amount, plus an additional $58.8 million in interest.
More details are available at BondNo., and at Reports | The School Data Project.
The only district honestly describing the true, full cost of bond approval to the public is the Union Gap School District in the Yakima Valley.
School bond measures approved by voters require homeowners and renters to pay higher property taxes and higher rents for many years. The result is higher housing costs for everyone, especially for the homeless, working and low-income families and elderly people living on fixed incomes. The higher taxes proposed by school officials falls hardest on those least able to pay.
The current and next generation will be paying for these school construction bonds for decades.
School officials should be required to provide the public with true and complete information about the real cost of approving school bonds. By doing so, state policymakers can help restore the public’s trust and confidence in the process of approving school bonds.
Liv Finne is the director of the Center for Education at the Washington Policy Center.
Also read:
- Opinion: Transit agencies need accountability not increased state subsidy
Charles Prestrud argues that Washington transit agencies face rising costs and declining ridership due to governance structures that lack public accountability. - Letter: ‘For years, American foreign policy too often felt like a blank check’
Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi argues that the 2025 National Security Strategy marks a long-overdue shift toward clearer priorities, shared responsibility, and interest-based American leadership. - POLL: Are you better off than you were a year ago?
This week’s poll asks readers to reflect on their personal financial situation and whether they feel better off than they were a year ago as economic conditions continue to shift. - Opinion: Does tailgating cause speeding?
Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl examines whether tailgating contributes to speeding and explains why following too closely increases crash risk with little benefit. - Opinion: ‘The Democrats’ part of the bargain’
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance reflects on a New Year’s Eve encounter and a Bill Maher commentary to assess what he sees as cultural and political changes from the past year.
School District Board and the administration continue with the illusion of mooooore Schools needed for a declining enrollment. Instead of more buildings they need to address the problems of spending 💰🤑 and too many administrators. They have too cut anything and everything. Stop spending 💸🤑💵💸🤑💵💸🤑💵.
This article was very timely as most people will be receiving their ballots in the mail this week. South Kitsap School District is proposing a Bond for $271 millions dollars. Their calculations as to cost is based upon an interest rate of 4% and 7-12% inflation. They have not updated their figures to the TRUE cost with 8% interest. The monthly payments will be $2,184,742.01 per month for 22 years! That is double their projection. 3 of the projects they purpose total $196 million and each project has major environmental issues that IF they are allowed to build, it will take years to satisfy all the environmental studies required with additional costs that they did not factor in. Cedar Heights Middle School was built on an actual PEAT BOG, on top of a “critical water recharge” with add’l building within “wetlands” that were identified during the Growth Management Act. This school has literally SUNK 5-6′. Rather than building on 30 acres that the district owns in an area of all the growth West of Hwy 16, they plan to build on the other half of the bog for $96 million. And while they spin their wheels trying to make this project be built… interest is being paid at 8% or more. Common sense should dictate that the school should be relocated. This Bond should be a hard NO – the public should vote for business owners with reason, experience in construction, and puts the KIDS FIRST.