King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Feb. 3, 2004 Special Elections

PROPOSITION NO. 1
TECHNOLOGY CAPITAL PROJECTS LEVY

The Board of Directors of Fife School District No. 417 approved a proposition for technology levies. This proposition authorizes acquiring educational technology, equipment and training, including classroom computers; and authorizes the following excess levies for such purposes on all taxable property within the District:

all as provided in District Resolution No. 03-11. Should this proposition be approved?

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

On October 27, 2003, the School Board authorized placement of the four-year 2004 – 2007 Capital Projects Technology Levy on an election ballot for February 3, 2004. Passage of this four-year levy will allow the District to improve long-range technology planning for the benefit of our students, staff, and community.

This proposed Levy would fund technology improvements, including computers, equipment, facilities, and training, and allow for the replacement of aging and obsolete equipment. Since 1996, the District has invested approximately $4.6 million on technology needs. State funding cuts combined with the lower investment earnings in our bond fund leaves the District with no funding alternatives for technology.

Under the proposed four-year levy, taxpayers would pay: $900,000 for an estimated .46¢ per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2005; $900,000 for an estimated .44¢ per $1,000 per assessed valuation for collection in 2006; $900,000 for an estimated .43¢ per $1,000 assessed valuation for collection in 2007; and $900,000 for an estimated .42¢ per $1,000 per assessed valuation for collection in 2008.

COMPLETE TEXT OF PROPOSITION NO. 1

RESOLUTION NO. 03-11

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417, PIERCE AND KING COUNTIES, WASHINGTON, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT AT A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD THEREIN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2004, OF A PROPOSITION TO AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO LEVY AN ADDITIONAL TAX TO PROVIDE A TOTAL OF $3,600,000 OVER FOUR YEARS FOR THE DISTRICT’S CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND FOR TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, SUCH LEVIES TO BE MADE FOR FOUR YEARS COMMENCING IN 2004 FOR COLLECTION IN THE SCHOOL YEARS FROM 2004-2005 THROUGH 2008-2009; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY RELATING THERETO.

FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417
PIERCE AND KING COUNTIES, WASHINGTON

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417, of Pierce and King Counties, Washington, as follows:

WHEREAS, the educational facilities of FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417, Pierce and King Counties, Washington (the “District”), including technology facilities are in need of improvements and expansion to meet the current and future educational needs for its students; and

WHEREAS, funds available to the District will be insufficient to enable the District to implement such projects; and

WHEREAS, in order to support the cost of these projects as found necessary by the Board of Directors, it is deemed advisable that the District levy a tax upon all the taxable property within the District in excess of the annual tax the District is permitted by law to levy without a vote of the people, such levy to be made for four (4) years commencing in 2004 for collection in the school years from 2004-2005 through 2008-2009, inclusive, as authorized by Article VII, Section 2 of the State Constitution and RCW 84.52.053; and

WHEREAS, the question of whether or not such excess tax may be levied must be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection; and

WHEREAS, the conditions here and above set forth create an emergency which requires the holding of a special election in the District;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417, of Pierce and King Counties, Washington, as follows:

Section 1. Finding. It is hereby found and declared that the welfare of the students and other residents of the District requires the District to carry out the improvements hereinafter provided.

Section 2. Authorization of Improvements. The District shall modernize its educational facilities through the acquisition and installation of technology systems, including computers, training and implementation support, and shall make other Capital Projects Fund expenditures as found necessary by the Board of Directors.

The District may repay any obligations hereafter incurred for the foregoing purposes.

If available funds are sufficient, the District shall acquire, construct, equip and make other capital improvements to the facilities of the District, all as the Board of Directors finds necessary; provided that such funds may be used only to support the construction, modernization, replacement, and remodeling of school facilities or implementation of the District’s technology facilities plan.

If the District shall determine that it has become impracticable to accomplish any of such improvements or portions thereof by reason of changed conditions or needs, incompatible development, costs substantially in excess of those estimated, or acquisition by a superior governmental authority, the District shall not be required to accomplish such improvement and may apply levy proceeds as set forth in this section. If any or all of the improvements have been completed, or their completion duly provided for, or their completion found to be impractical, the District may apply the levy proceeds or any portion thereof to other portions of the improvements or to other capital purposes of the District, as the District in its discretion shall determine. Notwithstanding any provision of this resolution to the contrary, levy proceeds may only be used to support the construction, modernization or remodeling of school facilities or implementation of the District’s technology facilities plan.

Section 3. Authorization of Levies. It is hereby found and declared that an emergency exists requiring the submission to the qualified electors of the District of the proposition whether the District shall make the Capital Projects Fund levies for their ratification or rejection at a special election to be held on February 3, 2004. For the purpose of providing funds necessary for the needs described in Section 2 above, the Pierce County Auditor, as ex-officio supervisor of elections in Pierce County, is hereby requested to find the existence of such an emergency and to call and conduct such special election to be held within the District on such day and to submit to the qualified electors of the District for their approval or rejection, a proposition providing for tax levies for the Capital Projects Fund for four (4) years, commencing in 2004, producing dollar amounts at estimated tax rates per thousand dollars of assessed value to produce such amounts, in excess of the maximum amount tax levy permitted by law to be levied within the District without a vote of the electors, all as follows:

1. $900,000, said levy to be made in 2004 for collection in 2005; and
2. $900,000, said levy to be made in 2005 for collection in 2006; and
3. $900,000, said levy to be made in 2006 for collection in 2007; and
4. $900,000, said levy to be made in 2007 for collection in 2008.

The estimated levy rate depends upon the final dollar amount of assessed value of the property within the District. At this time, based upon information provided by the County Assessor’s office, the estimated levy rate for the 2004 levy is $0.46 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation ($1,965,787,959 of assessed value), the estimated levy rate for the 2005 levy is $0.44 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation ($2,024,761,598 of assessed value), the estimated levy rate for the 2006 levy is $0.43 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation ($2,085,504,446 of assessed value), and the estimated levy rate for the 2007 levy is $0.42 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation ($2,148,069,579 of assessed value). The exact levy rate shall be adjusted based upon the actual assessed value of the property within the District at the time of the levy.

Section 4. Approval of Form of Ballot. The Secretary of the Board of Directors is hereby authorized and directed to certify said proposition substantially in the following form:

PROPOSITION NO. 1
FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417
TECHNOLOGY CAPITAL PROJECTS LEVY

The Board of Directors of Fife School District No. 417 approved a proposition for technology levies. This proposition authorizes acquiring educational technology, equipment and training, including classroom computers; and authorizes the following excess levies for such purposes on all taxable property within the District:

all as provided in District Resolution No. 03-11. Should this proposition be approved?

The polls for such special election shall be open from 7:00 o’clock a.m. to 8:00 o’clock p.m.
The Secretary of the Board of Directors of the District is hereby authorized and directed to deliver certified copies of this resolution to the Pierce and King County Auditors.

ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417, Pierce and King Counties, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this 27th day of October, 2003.

FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417,
Pierce and King Counties, Washington

Updated: Jan. 12, 2004

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