MUKILTEO — Enrollment in the Mukilteo School District is growing and the buildings are aging.
The school board is considering whether to put a $240 million capital bond measure to voters in February.
If the bond passes, the total state and local tax rate is projected to increase by .094 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. On a $500,000 home, the tax bill would go up about $47 a year.
The bond package would fund projects for six years, 2021 through 2026.
“The biggest piece of the draft bond addresses space to learn in a rapidly growing region,” district spokeswoman Diane Bradford said in an email. “Every one of our schools is at or over capacity right now and student enrollment is projected to grow in the next six years.”
Both the Edmonds and Everett school districts will ask voters in upcoming special elections to support big-ticket bond measures. In the Edmonds School District, district leaders unanimously voted to put a $600 million bond measure and $96 million capital and technology levy on the ballot in February. Everett school leaders are putting a $317 million bond on the ballot for April’s special election after failing to pass one for $330 million in 2018. Snohomish also has a $470 million bond proposal in February and Marysville is considering a school construction measure as well.
Mukilteo area residents are invited to learn more about the draft proposal, ask questions and give feedback in an informational meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mariner High School south of Everett and Thursday at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo.
At the Oct. 28 school board meeting, Superintendent Marci Larsen, who is retiring at the end of December, will make a recommendation in a final bond presentation. Alison Brynelson, who takes over as superintendent, has mentioned overcrowding as a districtwide issue.
Among other things, the bond would pay $85 million for additions to Challenger, Horizon and Discovery elementaries and Mariner High School; and $75 million for additions and partial replacements at Mukilteo and Serene Lake elementaries and Explorer Middle School.
It also has a $12.3 million for security upgrades at all schools, $2 million for technology infrastructure at all schools; $52.4 million for facilities (HVAC, roofing, flooring, plumbing); and $13.3 million for fields and courts.
“The Capital Bond Planning Advisory Committee has done a lot of thoughtful work to get the draft package this far and we are sharing the draft bond package with community and gathering their thoughts this month,” Bradford wrote.
On Nov. 12, the school board will vote on the capital bond proposition.
If it passes, ballots will be mailed to homes on Jan. 24, and will be due by Feb. 11.
Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.
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