Argument For Levy, from the Voters Pamphlet
Quoted below is information from the committee promoting the Levy.
Our thoughts follow their quotes. Photo of their statement in its entirety
is below. Read on to make your own decision.
“Critical safety and security issues, delayed maintenance, failing infrastructure, HVAC Systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) no longer serviceable”
What are these critical safety and security issues? The 2018 Capital Levy generated almost $40 million, the 2022 Levy will generate over $27 million, for a total of over $67 million. Collection on this 2022 Levy doesn't end until December 31, 2026. Why haven’t the “critical” safety and security issues been addressed? Rather than prioritizing these critical issues NKSD, with Board approval, has prioritized such things as making the NK Community swimming pool deeper to accommodate a diving board, and building a walking path at Vinland in lieu of city sidewalks.
“Failing Infrastructure”
Where? Why? The building assessment reports show that even the Choice Academy building in Kingston, which is scheduled to be demolished with these Levy funds (if approved) shows the majority of the issues are from lack of maintenance. This building’s superstructure is rated "90% good" in Engineering and Consultant Reports, August 2018, (the most recent engineering/Consultant reports according to record requests).
“HVAC systems no longer serviceable”
Only true with Briedablick.
All the heat pumps in this facility have failed and deteriorated beyond repair. This building is currently being heated without the heat pumps, electric strip heating only. Possibly the most inefficient and expensive way to heat a building. With the new ChanceLight program in this building we must provide heat. Nothing in this Levy to fix this HVAC.
There are aging HVAC systems that are at or near the point that the cost of labor and parts to where it makes no financial or operational sense to continue to repair, these are:
(1) Pearson Elementary, not much choice here. This HVAC needs to be maintained until a new building can be constructed.
(2) District Administration Offices
(3) NKHS Technology Building
(4) NKHS Main Campus Building
(5) NKHS Building 900, due to the condition of the roof this building has been abandoned. This building is slated to be demolished.
(6) SUQUAMISH Elementary School. This is very concerning for several reasons. Remember, this is the school the District Administration and the Board of Directors said needed nothing from the 2024 Bond. The 2022 Levy provided funding for a new gymnasium which is currently under construction. This Levy (if
approved) would provide funding for a SPED Suite to eliminate the last remaining portable.
We were told the HVAC problems Suquamish Elementary has been experiencing would be fixed with “a new control”. A February 2024 Board Document shows $98,560.00 worth of controls. Now we find out the HVAC system is at or nearing the end of practical serviceable life. The District is planning to “Patch up” a
mechanical system at Suquamish Elementary for $200K. Yes, $200K to "Patch up" a system that is at or
nearing its practical serviceable life.
Will this “patch” provide for the heating and cooling needed, after the Gym and the SPED suite are added?
The only HVAC improvements we see in this Levy are:
(1) two schools will have a “Patch up” on their mechanical systems
(2) one failed boiler will be replaced
(3) repairing the leaks in the hydronic system along with new replacing joint hydronic water piping connections. Seems as though NKSD isn’t going to do much to give the teachers what they want most, decent Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning. Maybe this will come with a future Levy and/or Bond, not this one.
Most will agree there comes a time where these systems should be replaced rather than repaired, let’s not continue to put good money after bad.
“This is not a new tax, it replaces one set to expire”
In 2022 the voters of North Kitsap voted to approve a 4-year levy with set collection rates that would
decrease in collection years 2025 and 2026. The Levy we are voting on in November will add to the collection rate starting in 2025, continuing until December 31, 2030.
More Information
Enrollment
"As our community grows, so too, have the demands on our schools.”
This quote is from the Argument For the Measure in the Voter's guide, but the facts show that enrollment has
actually decreased.
Fact: In 2007-2008 the NKSD Enrollment was 6,421.
Today, NKSD Enrollment is 5027.42 (as per School Board Documents)
Decrease of 1,213 students.
Source: See last photo below
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Maintenance or Capital Improvement
In the Argument for the Measure in the Voter's Pamplet, it states “Our schools have many outstanding maintenance and capital improvement needs.”
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is a "compilation of all permanent laws currently in force in the state of Washignton". One of these laws, law RCW 43.88.032 says “(1) Normal maintenance costs shall be programmed in the operating budget rather than in the capital budget.” RCW 43.88.032: Maintenance costs, operating budget—Debt-financed pass-through money, budget document. (wa.gov)
The “Argument For the Measure” in the voters pamphlet also mentions “delayed maintenance”. Is
maintenance being delayed to the point it is no longer maintenance but now a capital project, a project that requires a significant outlay of cash to fix?
Source: Please see photo below
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Maintenance or Capital Project
Where does Maintenance end and it becomes a Capital Project?
The State DOES provide funding for Maintenance and Technology as does the EP&O (Educational Programs and Operations) Levy passed in 2022 (collections through 2026).
Please see the photo below titled "2022 Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O)"
Source: Please see photo below
The Cost of this New Levy
The following statements address the information presented in the photographs below.
What tax is being replaced? There is no Levy expiring until
December 31, 2026.
The collection on this proposed 2024 Levy will continue until December 31, 2030.
The collection on the two existing 2022 Levies will continue until December 31, 2026.
The reality is rather than pay the .33 per $1,000 value on our homes we agreed to in 2022 with this new Levy we will pay a combined amount of $1.07 per $1,000.
An example, a home valued at $500,000 with the 2022 levy rate of .33 we will pay $165.00.
Adding this new levy the combined rate is $1.07 per $1,000 equaling $535.00 a $370 increase in 2025 from the 2022 Levy.
The difference in 2026 is even greater. The collection on this same home at .25 will be $125.00.
The new rate would be $1.07 making the tax $535.00 a $410.00 increase from the 2022 Levy.
“Recently expanded to enhance representation, the District's Facility Advisory Committee ….”
Most (if not all, there is only one in question) of the community members on this committee are Poulsbo residents. There are well-qualified people who applied to be on this committee from areas of NKSD outside of Poulsbo. None were chosen. Many parts of our Districts are not being adequately represented.
School Representation:
(1) All schools were not represented until the July 11th meeting. Beginning this date Gordon has
one parent representative.
(2) Pearson is represented by only the Principal.
(3) Kingston High School has 3 representatives, one parent and two are listed as Athletic staff on
the NKSD website.
(4) North Kitsap High School has 3 representatives, one Parent, two staff (one Athletics and
the Principal).
(5) One Community Member on the CFAC didn’t attend any meetings.
According to the CFAC meeting minutes from the May 15, 2024 meeting (which was only their second
meeting), the committee made the decision to run this $31 million dollar Levy. This was the
same meeting they were busy taking a guided tour of Pearson Elementary, how did this leave them time to
make such a colossal decision? Another concern is that only 62% of the committee was present at that
meeting; only 16 of the 26 members were present.
The decision on what to spend the money on came later, July 15, which was four Committee meetings later. Meeting minutes show that this Levy was put together in less than 14 hours. During these 14 hours, the
committee also toured Suquamish Elementary and Kingston Middle School. How much time would you spend making a decision to spend $31 million dollars?
We believe the committee made the best decisions possible with the time they had. However, we also believe they need to take more time in order to make more informed decisions. We believe they need to take more time to know and understand the actual needs of the schools.
Missing Students
The NKSD website states there are students on the committee, but no students are listed as committee members or attendees at the meetings.
Source of Photo, NKSD Website:
Facilities Advisory Committee - North Kitsap School District 400 (nkschools.org)
https://www.nkschools.org/about-us/capital-projects/facilities-advisory-committee
Facilities and Technology Capital Projects Levy
Information from the Voter's Pamphlet
The collection on this new Levy will continue until December 31, 2026.
Source of photo, Kitsap County Elections Website, page 5 of 7.:
https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Documents/LVP.pdf
Estimated Levy Rate
Information from the Voter's Pamphlet
The collection on this new Levy will continue until December 31, 2030.
What tax is being replaced?
Source of photo: Kitsap County Elections Website, page 14 of 16:
https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Documents/LVP.pdf
Pro Committee Statement
This information is from the committee that is promoting the Levy
Source of Photo, Kitsap County Auditor's Election Website:
LVP.pdf (kitsap.gov)
https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Documents/LVP.pdf
Enrollment History
Chart of Enrollment
"As our community grows, so too, have the demands on our schools.”
Fact: In 2007-2008 the NKSD Enrollment was 6,421.
Today, NKSD Enrollment is 5027.42 (as per School Board Documents)
Decrease of 1,213 students.
Prototypical Funding
Washington State provides a prototypical funding model, suggesting how the money they give school districts should be allocated. However, Districts then have a lot of latitude in how the money is actually used.
Here is a sample photo of a page of the prototypical
funding model. This photo is of a district size slightly larger than NKSD.
Here is a link to the RCW: RCW 28a.150.260: Allocation of state funding to support instructional program of basic education—Distribution formula—Per-pupil allocations reporting by the superintendent of public instruction and in legislative budget documents—Prototypical schools—Enhancements and adjustments—Review and approval—Enrollment calculation. (<i>Effective until September 1, 2024.</i>)
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=28a.150.260
2022 Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O)
The EP&O Levy that was passed in 2022 also provides for daily operations and maintenance of our school buildings.
Source of photo:
Bond & Levy Details - North Kitsap School District 400 (nkschools.org)
https://www.nkschools.org/about-us/bond-levy-information/bond-levy-details/~board/community-report/post/the-2022-educational-programs-and-operations-levy-epo-continuing-excellence-in-north-kitsap-school-district
The Law
Here is a photo of the law regarding maintenance:
RCW 43.88.032: Maintenance costs, operating budget—Debt-financed pass-through money, budget document. (wa.gov)
ttps://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.88.032#:~:text=PDF%20RCW%2043.88.032%20Maintenance%20costs%2C%20operating%20budget%20—,programmed%20and%20separately%20identified%20in%20the%20budget%20document.
2024 - 2025 Enrollment
Chart regarding current enrollment from the
September 26, 2024 North Kitsap School District
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Source, NKSD Board Website, Slide #4:
Budget Status Report (diligent.community)
https://nkschools.diligent.community/document/81a1ccf9-3b29-40bf-a8bd-8f53b6cafde7/