YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima School District Board of Directors are taking action to improve local schools. They are asking voters to authorize a $200 million bond measure aimed at upgrading two elementary schools and enhancing facilities district-wide.
The bond measure follows a unanimous vote by the board this week. If passed, it will fund the complete rebuilding of Hoover Elementary and Garfield Elementary. Both schools were constructed decades ago, with Hoover built in 1947 and Garfield in 1966.
The need for upgrades is pressing.
“The need is not gone away, and it’s only gotten exacerbated over time as facilities age,” said Jake Kuper, Assistant Superintendent of Finance for the school district.
Kuper explained the costs involved, stating that rebuilding each school would cost around $80 million. The remaining funds will target district-wide improvements.
“We have Title nine and ADA upgrades, which we need in some of our older facilities,” Kuper said. “We have sidewalks and asphalt replacement. We know we have a lot of parking lots that are allocated or broken up, [and] HVAC. There’s 14 and a half million dollars to replace or modernize and upgrade all the playgrounds across every elementary school.”
Kuper also broke down the proposed property tax rate. For every $100,000 of assessed property value, residents would pay about $80 more annually. With an average property value of $311,000, this translates to approximately $20.50 per month.
Recently, the city of Yakima failed to pass a levy lid lift that asked residents for a similar property tax rate. Kuper acknowledged that the city failed to pass that and said Yakima School District’s goal is transparency.
“If we ask the voters for a tax increase, which we are in this case, that we are transparent about what they’re going to get in return,” Kuper said. “That’s the goal is to be as transparent as possible so we’re going to increase your taxes. Here’s the value proposition to you. Here’s what the district needs are in. Ultimately, voters will decide if the bond measure will pass.”
For the bond measure to succeed, it must meet two criteria: a supermajority of 60 plus 1 percent of voters saying yes and a 40% turnout of the last general election. The decision will rest in the hands of voters during April’s special election.
