(The Center Square) – A bill that would increase the amount of local property tax collections allowed by school districts passed the House Finance Committee on Tuesday.
HB 1356, sponsored by Rep. Steve Bergquist, D-Renton, increases the maximum per-pupil limit used for school enrichment levies gradually over several years up to $5,035 in the 2031 calendar year.
The bill also changes the 101 percent revenue growth limit for state property taxes to 100 percent plus population change and inflation, with a capped limit of 103 percent.
Ahead of the final vote, Republicans offered several amendments, including an amendment that would send the measure to voters via a referendum.
“If this is going to be changed, it should be approved by the voters,” said Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama.
Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek urged a no vote on the amendment.
“I think voters do have a choice every other year to ask us to come back or not and I think as policy makers we have the responsibility to make hard decisions and this one around education funding, I believe voters have already spoken to say they trust us as policy makers,” said Berg.
As the hearing was taking place, members of the GOP leadership were hosting a media availability and responded to a question offered by The Center Square about the local levy lift bill.
“You’ve got tax increases on families when they can least afford it,” said Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, who expressed opposition to the bill. “We’re getting to a breaking point where we just can’t keep doing this and expect people to be able to make ends meet in our state,” said Corry.
The Yakima Republican said the bigger problem he has with the bill is that it will increase school district inequities.
“Rich districts can do a tiny levy and get tons of money and rural and less property intensive districts can’t do that and so once again we’re setting ourselves up for a future lawsuit,” said Corry in reference to lawsuits related to the landmark McCleary ruling that required lawmakers to fully fund education at the state level.
Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said he is also concerned about school funding inequalities by allowing local districts to increase tax collections.
“This is a bad idea as it makes small rural districts unable to keep up with bigger districts funding for education,” said Braun. “Our paramount duty is to fund education. We shouldn’t be looking for ways for locals to fund it from local taxes because we know that leads to inequity,” said Braun.Rep. Berg, offered an amendment to exclude charter schools from levy expansion, as charter schools were in the original bill. The amendment was adopted by majority Democrats.Washington Charter schools receive 25% less ongoing funding than traditional public schools, as they receive no share of locally-raised school funding. The bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a K-12 funding equity workgroup to analyze options for revising K-12 funding formulas.
