EVERETT — Voters said yes to the Everett School District’s levy requests for preserving its educational budget and for capital improvements that include replacing two entire schools.
The capital levy, which had more than 55% voter approval, will bring about $54.25 million a year into the district during the next six years, raising $325.5 million in total.
The education and programs levy, which also had more than 55% approval, will sustain district funding. It will provide somewhere near $1 out of every $7 of the district’s education budget, or about 14% of it. (State dollars pay for close to 80%.)
The capital levy’s two biggest projects are replacing Madison and Jackson elementary schools. At Madison Elementary in midtown, a new two-story school would be built for $63 million. At Jackson Elementary in north Everett, a new two-story school would be built for $48 million.
It also will pay to modernize school playgrounds, heavily renovate Everett High’s cafeteria, convert certain classrooms at Jackson High School to enhance the school’s career pathway programs and more.
Work sprouts in 2023. “All of the projects and construction will be phased to align with the cash flow,” Reeves said.
Levy money arrives in semiannual portions, unlike a capital bond where the district gets a multimillion dollar lump sum all at once and has to pay back over time with interest.
Superintendent Ian Saltzman cheered that the levies passed.
“This is great news for our district,” Saltzman said in a statement. “This means we will be able to provide critical programs and services for our students as well as funding essential technology and projects throughout the district.”
The overall tax rate charged by Everett Schools in 2023 will be $4.08 per $1,000 in assessed property value. This will stay the same through 2027 if no new bonds are authorized by voters during this timeframe. For a $500,000 home, it would equal $2,040 for the district’s portion of property taxes.
