Reasons to Support the Bond

1) This bond allows us to be prudent and fiscally responsible with our maintenance and repairs so we don’t use operations dollars that could go directly to the classroom.

For instance, if a school boiler fails, the replacement is at least $500,000, equivalent to six teaching positions. If no bond funds are available, classroom operations dollars must be used instead.

2) This bond allows us to rebuild some of our oldest schools during this period of low-historic construction costs.

After more than five decades, Clark Elementary, Issaquah Middle, and Sunny Hills Elementary are at the end of their lifespans. Long-term financial forecasts favor rebuilding now—in a period of historic low construction costs— rather than making ongoing major repairs in the years ahead.

3) We are one of the most fiscally responsible school districts in the country so you know we will manage these bond dollars effectively.

Issaquah School District received the Moody’s AAA rating which is given to less than one percent of all school districts in the United States. The District has the lowest administrative costs as a percentage of our budget than any other district in King County.

4) In relation to current tax expenditures, residents can expect to see a decrease in local school taxes even if the bond is approved – for example, the owner of a $500,000 home would pay about $215 less in taxes per year.

How? Recognizing the current economic climate, the new bond package ($219 million spread over eight years) is structured to be about half as much as the bond debt retiring in 2012. The retiring bond debt will drop the tax rate from $4.85 to $4.05 per $1,000 of assessed property value; approval of the new bond will result in an estimated $4.42 tax rate.

5) By modernizing Tiger Mountain Community High School, we are enabling the expansion of career and tech training to help all high school students compete in the global economy.

6) There is simply a strong correlation between healthy school districts and a healthy economy.

Preparing this generation of kids compete in a global economy ensures a well-trained workforce, lower crime rates and improved home values. Let’s keep Issaquah and it’s surrounding areas vibrant and prosperous for years to come…