Form revised February 4, 2010

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	DOF Analyst/Phone:
Legislative	Patricia Lee 386-0078	N/A

Legislation Title:

 A RESOLUTION concerning the renewal of the Families and Education Levy; setting forth a structure, process and schedule to develop and place a seven –year 2011 Families and Education Levy on the November 8, 2011 ballot to fund various educational services and programs that promote student academic achievement within the City of Seattle; providing for a Families and Education Levy Advisory Committee to make recommendations concerning a Levy renewal; establishing criteria for the appointment of citizen representatives to the Advisory Committee; and identifying the purpose, criteria and policy framework to be followed in developing Levy renewal recommendations.

· Summary of the Legislation:

This Resolution sets forth the structure, process and schedule to develop and place a seven-year 2011 Families and Education Levy on the November 8, 2011 ballot. It also provides for the appointment of an Advisory Committee to make recommendations on a Levy renewal.  A Levy Oversight Committee (LOC) oversees the current Levy. The 12 member LOC is comprised of the Mayor, a Councilmember, the Seattle School Superintendent, a Seattle School Board member and eight citizens. The Families and Education Levy Advisory Committee will be comprised of all LOC members and 12 additional citizens. 6 citizens will be appointed by the Mayor and 6 by Council, with all appointments confirmed by the Council. 

The Resolution also provides context for the next Levy in Section 1, Findings and Declarations. Section 6enumerates investment priorities and considerations that should be addressed in the Advisory Committee’s recommendations for a 2011  Levy renewal.

· Background:

The State of Washington is responsible for the funding of public education and the Seattle Schools District is responsible for educational instruction. However, many children have economic, health, language and other barriers that hinder and impede their school readiness and academic achievement. The support and assistance of family, businesses, non-profit organizations and the City is needed to help children realize their academic potential. In 1990, 1997 and 2004 Seattle voters agreed that the Seattle School District could not address all the barriers to academic achievement, and because educated residents are necessary to support the economic and political well-being of Seattle supplemental funding through the City’s Families and Education Levies is a legitimate City purpose.

The current 2004-2010 Families and Education Levy provides $117 million over seven years.  This funding does not supplant either State or School District funding.  It provides services that help children achieve their academic potential by either addressing barriers or augmenting skills.

_x___ This legislation does not have any financial implications.

It is anticipated that the work detailed in this resolution will result in the renewal of the City’s Families and Education levy in 2011. The levy, if approved, will have fiscal implications. These fiscal implications will be detailed in a future fiscal note as part of the legislation placing a particular measure on the ballot for voter consideration.