ISD Levy Committee

What is a Levy?

A levy is a short-term, local property tax passed by the voters of the school district that generates revenue for the district to fund programs and services that the state does not fund or fully fund as part of “basic education.”

What is the ISD Levy Committee?

• The committee is comprised of 43 voting members representing parents of individual schools,  the community (retired person, business, at large), Volunteers for Issaquah Schools and educational staff. Learn more: Levy Development Committee 2022

• The committee is tasked with reviewing, providing community input and making a recommendation on ISD’s supplemental funding levy plan for 2022-2026.

• As proposed, the levies will generate 15.6% (~$65M/year) of ISD’s Operations Fund by extending our current local property tax levy for an additional 4 years (all levies must be approved via a ballot measure/local election).

What Levies are Being Proposed?

• Educational Programs and Operations Levy – EP&O (formerly called the Maintenance and Operations Levy)
• The General Operating funds generated via the EP&O levy can (by state law) be used for the following “enrichment” activities
• Extracurricular activities, extended school days
• Additional course offerings
• Early learning programs
• Additional salary/administration costs for enrichment activities
• ISD’s current $62m EP&O spending proposal (springboard) for the levy can be found on slide 12 at  ISD Levy Committee Presentation

• Transportation Levy (Buses)
• The transportation levy generates funds for the purchase of new buses. ISD’s current proposal (springboard) for the levy is to purchase 64 buses for an approximate 1 to 1 replacement of the district’s fully depreciated buses (Buses are retired after 13 years of service).  
• 2023 – 10 Large/9 Small
• 2024 – 13 Large/12 Small
• 2025 – 4 Large/5 Small
• 2026 – 6 Large/5 Small  

• Capital Levy (Technology and Critical Repairs)
• TBD – We will learn more next week.

Why are these Levies Important?

• The levies are the primary way our community invests annually in our local schools – 15.6% of ISD’s operating budget
• The levies provide the funds to modernize ISD’s bus fleet.

Why Engage?

• You can help determine how we - as a community - invest in our students’ experience and opportunities beyond the state/federal mandated basic education
• You can participate in the community oversight of how our tax dollars are invested in the future of Newcastle

What Can You Do?

• Add your voice to the conversation with any thoughts, ideas or recommendations for ISD’s Enrichment Activity investments
• Review ISD’s proposals (springboard) for EP&O and Bus Spending – Full presentation can be viewed by QRCode:   

ISD’s Current Springboard Proposal is on Page 12

• Contact me, your Newcastle representative – Peter O’Donoghue – peteinseattle@yahoo.com  (425) 691 7910
• Email the Levey Committee Directly –  levy2022@issaquah.wednet.edu
• Or do both!!