Nov. 8, 2022 School Construction Election Measure

Cost to taxpayers:

Renton School District tax rates continue to decline.

• Even with approval of this $676 million measure, district tax rates will decrease by an additional 29 cents down to $3.26 per/$1,000* of assessed property value. The owner of a home with stable value at $500,000 can see a decrease in school district tax rates of about $195/year.
• Assessed value continues to growth within our district boundaries as more families, homeowners, renters, and businesses move into our district, which results in a decrease for an individual's tax rate (review analysis of our assessed value). The amount the district can collect is capped, we would not collect more. If property values go up more than projected, the district's tax rate goes down accordingly.

*Updated property valuation (Sept. 2022) from King County Assessor's Office indicate a combined local tax rate of $3.26/$1,000 (previously estimated at $3.16) of assessed value from passage of this measure.

• Find your specific tax rate at the King County Department of Assessments Tax Transparency Tool.

• Exemptions from taxes may be available to certain homeowners. For more information, please call the King County Department of Assessments at (206) 296-3920.

Funding from these voter-approved School Construction Bond Measures is designated specifically for school construction and repairs and cannot be used for teacher pay, curriculum, or other daily school operations.

Renton High School continues to be a safe, welcoming, and exceptional place for learning and student success. However, there are several reasons to build a new Renton High School campus for our students, families, and staff.

A large portion of the Nov. 8, 2022 School Construction measure will be used to identify about 40 acres of land to provide a new high school facility for the Renton High School service area, providing a modern learning environment and equitable athletic opportunities for all our high school students.

• We will build the new Renton High campus within district boundaries (location to be determined)
• We will not take down the current Renton High School (we will continue to find uses for this building)

Important reasons to build a new Renton High School campus:

Built on small parcel of land

• While most high schools are built on 30-40 acres to include suitable learning spaces along with sports and athletics fields, Renton High School is built on only about 20 acres. In comparison in our district, Hazen High is built on 33.3 acres; Lindbergh High is built on 37.2 acres.

Built on Native American historical site

• Renton High is built along the former Black and Duwamish rivers, which are historical sites of Duwamish tribal villages and considered a high probability for archaeological sites. Recognizing the importance of land to cultural preservation, construction on the Renton High School site, including the large field at the west of the property (indicated in red), is highly restricted compared to other parts of the district. Any construction work planned at Renton High must include local Native American representatives and be evaluated by anthropological/archaeological professionals to ensure we do not desecrate and disturb historically significant land.

Built in direct flightpath of Renton Airport

• Improvements at Renton High are also restricted as it is in the direct  flightpath of Renton Municipal Airport. This prohibits adding height to the existing school for additional learning space and adding lighting to the large ball field for use in evenings and winter months.

Restrictions to build on the current Renton High site mean we’re unable to make equitable improvements for students, families, and staff at Renton High compared to other district high schools. These restrictions leave us unable to provide the same amenities and facilities for Renton High School students that our other high schools can offer.

Thanks to continued community support, Renton School District has consistently made needed improvements to our school buildings over the decades. Our process is to ensure all schools are well-maintained to provide our students with the best possible learning environment.

Keeping our schools in top operating condition provides students with the best opportunities for high-level learning while helping to maintain quality of life and improve property values for our citizens.

We’ve able to make these much-needed school renovations, upgrades, and improvements across the district while seeing our district tax rates decrease for property owners (down more than 34% since 2016).

This November 8, our citizens will decide on the next phase of the district's long-range School Construction Plan. If approved, the measure will continue:

• School Safety & Security
• HVAC & Seismic Improvements
• Locate/Purchase Property
• Build New Renton High School campus

Because of growth in the district, even with approval, district tax rates will continue to decrease another 29 cents down to $3.29* per $1,000 of assessed property value. *Updated property valuation (Sept. 2022) from King County Assessor's Office indicate a combined local tax rate of $3.26/$1,000  (previously estimated at $3.16) of assessed value from passage of this measure.

Previous school bonds replaced aging schools for students in elementary school and provided a needed additional new middle school. The Nov. 8, 2022 school construction measure focuses on needs at larger school facilities so students across our district have safe and modern places to learn. The funding measure will pay for the construction costs of major renovations specifically to make critical repairs districtwide.

Thanks to voter support, our district has completely rebuilt all elementary schools beginning in 1997. And while we've also made major renovations to our middle and high schools, with the Nov. 8, 2022 bond measure we will continue our long-range plan to renew and improve our larger schools.

Over the past several years, the cost of building materials and supply chain challenges have increased construction costs for our district and contractors and builders around the region and nation. Waiting longer into the future to build, renovate, or replace our schools will result in increased construction costs and design changes.

Renton School District sought applications from June 22 to July 6 from persons interested in being appointed to a committee to write the pro/con statements for the King County Local Voters’ Pamphlet related to the District’s November 8, 2022 ballot measure. Those interested submitted their information to the Community Relations Office by the July 6 deadline. The Board took action on the appointments at its July 13, 2022 regular board meeting.