Key Findings

1. SJR 8207 would amend the state constitution by removing taxpayer protection. It would reduce the voter-approval standard from a 60 percent requirement to a 50 percent requirement to approve school bond levies for building and remodeling school buildings.
2. The 60-percent standard is an important safeguard in the state constitution to require a higher level of agreement before school officials can impose long-term debt on the community. 
3. Like signing a mortgage, a decision to take on long-term public debt should require more than just majority support. 
4. The 60 percent standard protects children and young people from being held back by a heavy financial burden imposed by debt taken on today. 
5. The 60 percent standard does not prevent most bond levies from passing. For example, in 2017, 64 percent of school districts seeking bond levies received voter approval, resulting in $2.1 billion in new funds.  
6. Removing the 60 percent standard would remove a key incentive for officials to propose reasonable and affordable public construction projects.
7. The burden of debt in Washington state is already high. Taxpayers are currently paying off $17.9 billion in existing long-term school bond debt. 
8. The 60 percent standard protects families from regressive taxation, especially low-income families, the unemployed and the elderly living on fixed incomes.

Introduction

Lawmakers are considering SJR 8207, to amend the state constitution to remove the taxpayer-protection standard and make it easier for elected officials to increase local property taxes and impose long-term debt on the public.  The measure was introduced by Senators Sam Hunt (D-Olympia) and Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island). 

If passed in each house of the legislature by a two-thirds vote, SJR 8207 would be referred to the voters at the next general election, in November of 2024. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the constitutional change would be enacted and current taxpayer protection would be removed. The governor’s signature would not be required.

READ THE FULL LEGISLATIVE MEMO HERE