Washington Lawmakers Push to Lower School Bond Approval Threshold

In Washington, lawmakers are once again pushing to make it easier to pass school bond measures. Right now, passing a bond requires more than 60% of voter approval, which is harder to achieve than the simple majority just over 50% needed for other types of school funding measures like levies.

What Are School Bonds?

School bonds are used to pay for big projects, like building new schools, renovating old ones, or buying land. To raise this money, bonds are sold to investors and then repaid over time with local property taxes.

Why Is It Hard to Pass Bonds?

In Washington, passing a school bond requires a supermajority—60% of voters must approve, and at least 40% of voters from the last general election must participate. This high bar makes it challenging for school districts to get bonds approved, even if most people support them.

For instance, in November, voters in Issaquah approved a $642.3 million school bond with just over 50% of the vote. However, because it didn’t reach 60%, it failed. Meanwhile, Sumner-Bonney Lake School District passed a $732 million bond with 64% approval, one of the few successes statewide. Out of 14 bond measures, only four passed.

The Push to Lower the Threshold

Democratic lawmakers want to lower the approval requirement to 50%, arguing that many districts could secure funding if they only needed a simple majority. For example, Rep. Paul Harris and Rep. Monica Stonier have supported proposals to drop the threshold to 55% or even a simple majority. Stonier has already reintroduced a bill, HB 1032, for the upcoming legislative session to make this change.

Supporters say the current system creates inequality. Wealthier districts can afford better schools, while poorer districts struggle with outdated buildings, lead-based paint, and inadequate heating and cooling systems.

Concerns About Lowering the Threshold

Critics argue that bonds are long-term commitments, often lasting 20 to 30 years, and shouldn’t be easy to approve. They believe districts should focus on making a stronger case to voters rather than changing the rules.

We’re asking taxpayers to fund these projects for decades, said Senate Minority Leader John Braun. This is a serious decision and should require broad support.

 

 

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