KENNEWICK — The Richland School District is considering canceling a $23 million taxing levy voters passed to pay for security improvements in schools — but only if a bond measure with similar projects passes in the coming year or two.
The proposal is part of ongoing discussions by the school board and top district staff on how and when to seek funding for new school construction projects over the next two decades.
New demographics data recently released shows enrollment isn’t growing as fast as it was before the COVID pandemic, which means construction of a third comprehensive high school in West Richland might not be needed for another decade.
A 2020 enrollment forecast showed the number of high schoolers in Richland could hit 5,500 by 2035. But new projections show that number might be about 250 students fewer.
That would total about 700 more high schoolers than today’s enrollment.
Last year, voters approved a six-year, $23 million capital improvement levy to pay for safety and security projects across the school district. The measure passed in February 2023 with 55% approval.
The tax starts this year, with property owners taxed 31 cents on every $1,000 of assessed value. The rate will see a gradual decrease over the next five years.
But if voters approve a new multi-million dollar bond in November, the school district could stop collecting the levy money for the final five years. That would save the district time and money, officials say.
“Over time, it’s just a better deal for the taxpayers,” said Clinton Sherman, Richland School District’s executive director of financial services.
Richland School District is the smallest of the Tri-City “Big 3” school districts, serving more than 14,000 students and employing nearly 1,500.
By 2035, the medium-sized district could see an increase of 2,000 more K-12 students.
Levy cancellation
In Washington state, bonds are for building schools and facilities, while levies are mostly used to pay for learning and education programs.
Bonds are sold to investors who are repaid with interest over time by property tax collection, generally from 10 to 20 years. The funding measures require a 60% super majority support from voters living in the district in order to pass.
Levies are short-term property taxes passed by voters — at least 50%, plus 1 — that pay for programs and services Washington state doesn’t deem “basic education,” such as extra school nurses or athletic departments. Some levies can be used to pay for capital improvement projects, like security upgrades.
Last year, after voters passed the capital levy, Richland took out a $13 million loan to start work on the security projects it plans to begin this spring. It was planned that the debt and interest on that loan would be paid off as the levy was collected.
With a third high school out of the picture in the near term, district staff feel a bond measure may be a more prudent funding model because the money could be collected faster and projects could start sooner.
“It’s not super common, but it’s not completely unique. It’s just the circumstances of where we’re at,” Sherman said. “We just want to be good financial stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars.”
In a statement, Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton said she can’t recall in the past 25 years any local municipalities canceling a levy.
Safety and security upgrades
Richland’s safety and security upgrades are set to begin construction this spring, and many will likely finish in time for students returning in Fall 2024.
District officials say the possible funding shift is not expected to interrupt the timeline for completion.
The district plans to modernize older schools with secure entrances, including at Richland and Hanford high schools; Carmichael, Chief Joseph and Enterprise middle schools; and Jason Lee, White Bluffs and William Wiley elementary schools.
Surveillance cameras and advanced security systems also will be outfitted in the schools.
Staff also will be trained on new systems and best practices in threat assessment and crisis response. The district plans to partner with outside security experts to identify and address building vulnerabilities.
The capital levy also included planning work for a third high school, a new joint building for River’s Edge High School and Pacific Crest Online Academy and an expansion at the Three Rivers HomeLink campus. Initial designs for those projects are already done.
Early plans show the district may seek funding to build the new River’s Edge building and HomeLink expansion in its next bond package.
After that bond, the school district wants to start looking at another package that would include new buildings for Chief Joseph, Carmichael and William Wiley. The district is also planning for a new middle school.
Classes at Hanford and Richland high schools are already overcrowded, but the school district says it could mitigate those current issues by moving student programs around and installing portable buildings.
