Votes will be counted Tuesday in special elections in the Sequim and Crescent Valley school districts.
The Sequim School District is putting a construction bond measure up for the fourth time in hopes that voters will approve money for a new elementary school, renovation of Sequim High School and other district improvements.
So far, attempts have fallen short of the 60 percent supermajority needed for bond passage.
This time, the amount is for $54 million, with goals similar to those proposed for the $49.3 million measure that appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot.
That one failed by just 54 votes, or 0.45 percentage points short of a 60 percent supermajority.
A $49.2 million bond proposal on last February’s ballot received 6,691 yes votes to 5,026 no votes, or 57.11 percent to 42.89 percent.
Voters defeated a $154 million measure by a 56 percent-44 percent margin in April 2014.
The $4.7 million increase from the November proposal to the present one is because interest rates are higher and construction is expected to be more costly because of a manpower shortage, Brian Lewis, Sequim School District director of business, has said.
If it passes, the measure would result in a tax levy of 61 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation on property owners, Lewis said.
For the owner of a $246,675 home, the median sale price of Sequim-area residences in 2015, that would mean the addition of about $138.14 in annual property taxes, he said.
If approved, the bond will be used to renovate and expand Greywolf Elementary, build a new school, renovate Helen Haller to house Olympic Peninsula Academy — for alternative education — renovate and expand Sequim High, demolish a Sequim Community School building and upgrade the district kitchen and maintenance facility.
It also would fund a new science wing of six laboratory classrooms at Sequim High and add band, orchestra and choir rooms to the performing arts wing.
Opposition has come from a website called Truth in Taxation created by Bob Forde, who says the bond would increase taxes too much and that renovations could be done in different ways.
Joyce area levies
Voters in the Joyce area are asked to approve two levies for the Crescent School District.
The school district is asking for a four-year, $520,000 annual maintenance and operations levy, and a four-year, $100,000 annual capital improvements levy.
The maintenance and operations levy would collect $520,000 annually for a total of $2,080,000 over four years. The renewed levy would cost taxpayers an estimated $1.69 per $1,000 of assessed property value — about $338 per year on a $200,000 house.
The current four-year maintenance and operation levy, approved by voters in 2011, expires at the end of this year.
About 15 percent of the $3.3 million Crescent School District operating budget is paid for using local tax dollars.
Maintenance and operations levies are used to pay for the school district’s library, counseling services, music program, curriculum materials, the school nurse, food services, maintenance and equipment, utilities, fuel, data and tech support, employee benefits, business expenses and to reimburse out-of-pocket expenditures for teachers.
The 2017-20 replacement levy would add attention to educational technology equipment and support.
Capital levy
A capital levy to repair and renovate district facilities, including buildings and walkways, would collect $100,000 annually for four years for a total of $400,000.
The 2017-20 capital levy would cost property owners 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value — about $62 per year on a $200,000 home.
A recent facility study-and-survey of Crescent School conducted by Erickson McGovern Architects found significant deficiencies and areas of deterioration,the district said.
The district Facilities and Finance Advisory Committee met in 2015 and prioritized the list of architect’s recommendations in the order of safety, security, public access and asset preservation.
The committee membership consisted of parents, community members and district staff and administration.
Over the next four years, the district would use the capital levy money to:
■ Install alert notification speakers and alarms.
■ Make pathways and access features safe and compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
■ Replace all door handles and mechanisms to be ADA-compliant and to be able to be locked from inside the classroom.
■ Add or update exterior lighting for parking lots.
■ Repair and refurbish shingled mansards and water-damaged soffits on school roofs.
■ Update the gym and high school restrooms for ADA compliance.
The renovations are estimated to cost $400,000.
Voters have been making their choices since receiving ballots mailed Jan. 20. Polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
