Updated from vote counts posted on Feb. 15, 3:34 pm.
Kent School District levy, Proposition 1, is passing so far with 53.79% percent of the vote (13,320 votes), with 46.21% (11,441 votes) saying no.
There were 24,792 ballots counted as of Tuesday, which represents 23.86 percent of registered voters.
Voters in the district are being asked to approve a two-year levy that will bring in about $76.2 million per year in 2023 and 2024.
The Kent School Board unanimously approved a resolution on Nov. 10 to send the measure to voters to maintain funding for programs supported by the levy that are not fully funded by the state. This levy would replace the levy approved by voters in 2020 that expires in December 2022.
Interim Superintendent Israel Vela said at the board meeting that he is confident that this amount of funding would allow the district to maintain its current programs while remaining fiscally responsible and sensitive to the overall tax rate.
If approved, a property owner would pay about $1.88 per $1,000 assessed value in 2023 and $1.86 per $1,000 assessed value in 2024. That would cost the owner of a $600,000 home about $1,128 per year.
The levy amounts of $76.2 million per year are a fixed dollar amount that represents the maximum that may be raised through the levy, if approved.
The levy funds about 150 teachers who are not covered under the state funding, according to the district. The levy also pays for 17 nurses not supported by state funding. State funding covers four nurses.
School security personnel and technology also is mainly funded from the levy. The district has 12 positions in school safety, state funding covers only 4.5 positions, according to the district.
Levy money also helps fund athletic and art programs in the district as Associated Student Body fees cover only a small amount of the costs.
Local funding provides about 16% of the district’s annual budget, according to the district website. The state provides about 78% and the federal government 5% with about 1% from a variety of fees, grants and donations.
Voters approved the two-year renewal levy by 55% to 45% in 2020. The maximum amount that can be collected in 2021 is $69 million. The maximum amount that can be collected in 2022 is $76.2 million. Voters in 2018 approved the replacement and operations levy with 50.53% in favor.
During the Feb. 9 Kent School Board meeting, Superintendent Israel Vela made a statement thanking the community for its support for the levy.
“The voters have shown that our community values education and cares deeply about the future of our students,” Vega said. “For that, I am truly grateful.”
Vega said the passage of the levy would secure the financial stability of the school district and allow educators to continue to meet learning goals.
The election results will be certified on Feb. 18, 2022.
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