WHEREAS, the Seattle School District's Proposition 1: Operations Levy and Proposition 2: Building Excellence IV Capital Levy ("BEX IV") will be presented to the voters of Seattle at a special election on February 12, 2013; and
WHEREAS, education is the key to opportunity in this country; and
WHEREAS, an educated citizenry is a cornerstone to a participatory democracy and is a foundation for communities to grow and prosper; and
WHEREAS, a strong public school system is essential to sustain the economic health and vitality of the City by providing an educated and skilled workforce; and
WHEREAS, Seattle's children are its future and the quality of that future depends on providing all students equal access to a high quality education; and
WHEREAS, an educated population will be actively engaged in Seattle's civic life and contribute to the economic and social well-being of the city; and
WHEREAS, by 2018, it is projected that 67% of all jobs in Washington state will require a post-secondary education; and
WHEREAS, in order to maintain its competitiveness, keep existing employers and attract new family-wage jobs and economically viable industries, Seattle needs to provide a well-educated and trained workforce with the advanced skills and abilities needed
to compete in the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, a strong public school system contributes to the desirability and attractiveness of Seattle as a place to live; and
WHEREAS, State funding of the Seattle School District will be insufficient to enable the District to pay for necessary educational programs and operations and to properly meet the educational needs of the students attending District schools; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 1, the Seattle School District's threeyear Operations Levy totaling $551.9 million will provide necessary funds to pay for basic classroom needs such as teachers, librarians, counselors, bilingual and special education specialists,
textbooks and supplies, and a 6th period in high school; and
WHEREAS, the educational facilities of the Seattle School District are in need of earthquake and other safety projects, increased capacity to meet enrollment growth, improvements in building condition for aging structures, technology improvements and
major preventive maintenance throughout the District to meet the current and future educational needs of its students; and
WHEREAS, projects funded by Proposition 2, the Seattle School District's six-year BEX IV Capital Levy totaling $694.5 million would include earthquake and other safety projects in 37 schools; renovation, construction, replacement or additions to 11
elementary schools, one middle school and one K-8 school; construction of building condition and infrastructure improvements and major preventive maintenance at 20 schools; and acquisition and installation of technology equipment and implementation of
training and other measures throughout the district; and
WHEREAS, both the Operations and BEX IV Capital Levies are renewals of existing operations and capital levies;
WHEREAS, Seattle voters recognize that the Seattle School District must depend on local levy support to provide essential services as State funding is insufficient and have consistently for the past three decades voted to support the Seattle School
District's local levies; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. In accordance with the requirements of RCW 42.17A.555 and SMC 2.04.300 proper notice was given for a hearing at which members of the public, as well as Councilmembers, were afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an
opposing view. Having considered the views of the public, the Seattle City Council supports the efforts of the Seattle School District to obtain voter approval of two School Levies on February 12, 2013. The Seattle City Council asks Seattle voters to
carefully review these ballot measures and vote "YES" on the Seattle School District's Proposition 1 and Proposition 2, which will provide additional funding of benefit to our children and our City.
Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of ____________________, 2013, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this________ day
of ______________________, 2013.
_________________________________
President ___________of the City Council
THE MAYOR CONCURRING:
_________________________________
Michael McGinn, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of ________________________, 2013.
____________________________________
Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Councilmember Tim Burgess / Alex Pedersen RES School Levies December 26, 2012 Version # 2
Form last revised: December 12, 2012 4