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Home My WebLink About2025 - Bellingham School District No. 501 Proposition 2025-05 Supplemental Operations Levy - General and Special Election Novemeber 05, 2025Whatcom County Auditor's Office Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 December z, 2025 Election Results Receipt Stacy Henthorn County Auditor Amy Grasher Chief Deputy Auditor Copies of the following proposition election results from the November 4, 2025 General and Special Election, have been delivered to the Assessor's and Treasurer's Office: • City of Blaine, Proposition 2025-07, Reduction of City Limits ■ Bellingham School District 501, Proposition 2025-05, Supplemental Operations Levy • Bellingham School District 501, Proposition 2025-o6, Facilities Maintenance Levy ■ Lynden School District 504, Proposition 2025-09, General Obligation Bonds 0 Fire Protection District 7, Proposition 2025-o8, Restoring Regular Property Tax Levy Fire Protection District 18, Proposition 2025-10, Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Receipt Acknowlgdged: Assessor's Office: Rebecca Xczar Treasurer's Office: T� Steven Oliver 12= Z,Z'> 5- Date �a-3 �aaaS Date Page: 1 of 1 Summary Report 2025-11-24 Whatcom County, Washington, GENERAL 2025, Nov 04, 2025 16:43:28 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, BSD 501 Prop 2025-05 Supplemental Operations Levy, BSD 501 Prop 2025-06 Facilities Maintenance Levy, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 39563, Re istered Voters: 169242 Overall Turnout: 23.38%u Choice Votes Vote % All Precincts BSD 501 Prop 2025-05 Supplemental operations Levy (Vote for 1) 39563 ballots 4 over voted ballots, 4 overvotes, 1864 undervotes), 81804 registered voters, turnout 48.36% Yes 26032 69,06% No 11663 3i7.94°Is Total 37695 100.00% Overvotes 4 Undervotes 1864 BSD 501 Prop 2025-06 Facilities Maintenance levy (Vote for 1) 395G3 ballots 1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 2325 undervotes), 81804 registered voters, turnout 48.36% Yes 24023 64.51% No 13214 35.49°/0 Total 37237 100.00% overvotes 1 Undervotes 2325 STATE OF WASHINGTON ) ss COUNTY OF WHATCOM ) A canvass of the votes cast by qualified voters in Bellingham School District 501 for the district's submitted ballot measure for the November 4, 2025 Special Election is complete. The results of the election were duly canvassed by the Whatcom County Canvassing Board on November 25, 2025, and the results of said canvass are above. Dated this 2nd day of December, 2025, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington Stacy Henthorn County Auditor Final Lan ua e Ballot Title Bellingham School District 501 Proposition 2025-05 Supplemental Operations Levy Given the Washington State Legislature enacted Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2049 (ESHB 2049) which expanded the District's levy authority, the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District 501 adopted Resolution No. 17-25 authorizing a supplemental levy for education. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following tax levies as a supplement to the levies approved by the voters in the February 2024 election, on all taxable property within the District, to support the district's educational operations which are not funded or fully funded by the State: Collection Years_ 2026 2027 2028 all as provided in Resolution No. 17-25. Should this proposition be approved? Yes No Ex lanator Statement Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Assessed Value Amount $0.13 $4,000,000 $0.13 $4,000,000 $0.16 $5,000,000 This levy, in accordance with Resolution No. 17-25, supplements teaching and learning costs not adequately funded by the state and would provide funding for essential educational support for all students. Passage of Proposition 2025-05 allows a supplemental levy of $4,000,000 in property taxes within Bellingham School District for collection in 2026, $4,000,000 in 2027, and $5,000,000 in 2028 to supplement the levies approved by voters in February 2024. Approximate supplemental levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value may be $0.13 (2026 and 2027 collection), and $0.16 (2028 collection). Exact rates shall be determined at the time of the levy. Whatcom County Auditor's Office Ballot Measure Coversheet District Name: Bellingham School District No. 501 (Bellingham Public Schools) District Address: 1985 Barkley Blvd., Bellingham, WA 98226-6605 Contact Person 1 Contact Person 2 Kathryn Weilage, Chief Financial Officer Jacqueline Brawley, Executive Director, Communications and Community Relations Name & Title Name & Title (360) 220 9830 kathryn.weilage@bellinghamschools.org (360) 820 4765 jacqueline.brawley@bellinghamschools.org Phone & email Phone & email Cynthia M. Weed, K&L Gates LLP Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? Name (206) 370 7801 cynthia.weed@klgates.com 0 Yes 0 No Phone & email Resolution with original signatures or a certified copy Yes No Explanatory Statement prepared by your attorney, not to exceed 100 words Yes No Committee Appointment Forms separate forms for each committee + Yes No Completed Ballot Measure Coversheet 0 Yes 0 No Auditor's Office Use Received In Person JUL 242325 - � . Whatcom .County Elections Proposition/Initiative Number j Deputy Auditor's Signature Missing document(s): I understand that the submittal deadline date for the missing documents is and the Auditor's Office will not begin processing this ballot measure until all documents have been submitted. Presenter's Signature Reviewed 12/12/2023 Received In person JUL Z 4 1025 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 Whatcom County Elections WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS LEVY RESOLUTION NO. 17-25 A RESOLUTION of the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington, providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the District at a special election to be held therein on November 4, 2025, of the proposition of whether supplemental levies should be made to pay for necessary educational support and operations of the District. ADOPTED July 10, 2025 PREPARED BY: K&L GATES LLP Seattle, Washington 509445383.1 RESOLUTION NO. 17-25 A RESOLUTION of the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington, providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the District at a special election to be held therein on November 4, 2025, of the proposition of whether supplemental levies should be made to pay for necessary educational support and operations of the District. WHEREAS, Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington (the "District"), pursuant to Resolution No. 29-23 , submitted a levy proposition to its voters at a special election held on February 13, 2024, enable the District to support its educational programs and services, including teaching, school supplies, technology, athletics, facilities and transportation; and WHEREAS, the levy proposition authorized levies of $37,000,000 in 2024 for collection in 2025, $39,000,000 in 2025 for collection in 2026, $41,000,000 in 2026 for collection in 2027, and $43,000,000 in 2027 for collection in 2028; and WHEREAS, the levy proposition was approved by the voters; and WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature (the "Legislature:) in the 2025 Regular Session) enacted Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2049 (2025) to be effective 90 days after adjournment of the legislative session ("ESHB 2049") amended RCW 84.52.0531 to, inter alia, increase the maximum levy for tax collections commencing in 2026 and thereafter by increasing the maximum per -pupil limit by the "inflation enhancement" of $500 in the 2026 calendar year and 3.33 percentage points added to inflation each year from the 2027 calendar year to the 2030 calendar year; and WHEREAS, RCW 84.52.053 specifically permits the District to seek approval from its voters in order to collect the permitted additional levies (the "Supplemental Levies") for collection in the years 2026 through 2028; and WHEREAS, the Supplemental Levies will be supplemental to and not in replacement of the levies authorized by the voters in the February 2024 election; and 509445383.1 1 WHEREAS, in order to properly provide for necessary educational support and operations needs as authorized by ESHB 2049, the Board of Directors of the District deems it necessary to levy the following additional taxes (Supplemental Levies) upon all of the taxable property within the District in excess of the maximum annual tax levy permitted by law to be levied within the District without a vote of the electors: A. A tax of approximately $0.13 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $4,000,000, said levy to be made in 2025 for collection in 2026; and B. A tax of approximately $0.13 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $4,000,000, said levy to be made in 2026 for collection in 2027; and C. A tax of approximately $0.16 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $5,000,000, said levy to be made in 2027 for collection in 2028. WHEREAS, the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington require that the question of whether or not such excess taxes may be levied must be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501, WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON, as follows: Section 1. The following additional taxes, as Supplemental Levies (in addition to and not in replacement of the levies authorized by the voters in the February 2024 election) for the District's General Fund should be levied upon all of the taxable property within the District in excess of the maximum annual tax levy permitted by law to be levied within the District without a vote of the electors: A. $4,000,000, said levy to be made in 2025 for collection in 2026; and B. $4,000,000, said levy to be made in 2026 for collection in 2027; and C. $5,000,000, said levy to be made in 2027 for collection in 2028. -2- P120287_CMVN20287_8YR 07/10/25 509445383.1 The estimated levy rate depends upon the final dollar amount of assessed value of the property within the District. At this time, based upon information provided by the Whatcom County Assessor's office, the estimated levy rate for the 2025 levy is $0.13 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, the estimated levy rate for the 2026 levy is $0.13 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation and the estimated levy rate for the 2027 levy is $0.16 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. The exact levy rate shall be adjusted based upon the actual assessed value of the property within the District at the time of the levy. Upon approval by the voters of the proposition substantially in the form set forth below, the District may use the proceeds of said levies during the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years by incurring an indebtedness by the issuance of short term obligations against the General Fund of the District, as authorized by Chapter 39.50 RCW, and may expend the proceeds of said levies to pay such part of the general expenses of educational support and operations of the District during such school years as may be authorized or allowed by law for the use of excess levy funds. Section 2. It is hereby found and declared that the best interests of the District require the submission to the qualified electors of the District of the proposition of whether or not the District shall levy such excess tax for their ratification or rejection at a special election to be held therein on November 4, 2025. The Whatcom County Auditor, as ex officio supervisor of elections in Whatcom County, Washington, is hereby requested to call and conduct said special election to be held by all mail -in ballot, within the District on said date and to submit to the qualified electors of the District the proposition (Proposition No. 1) substantially in the form hereinafter set forth. The Secretary of the Board of Directors is hereby authorized and directed to certify said proposition substantially in the following form: -3- PA20287_CMVN20287_8YR 07/10/25 509445383.1 PROPOSITION NO. 1 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS LEVY Given the Washington State Legislature enacted Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2049 (ESHB 2049) which expanded the District's levy authority, the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501 adopted Resolution No. 17-25 authorizing a supplemental levy for education. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following tax levies as a supplement to the levies approved by the voters in the February 2024 election, on all taxable property within the District, to support the district's educational operations which are not funded or fully funded by the State: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2026 $ 0.13 $ 4,000,000 2027 $ 0.13 $ 4,000,000 2028 $ 0.16 $ 5,000,000 all as provided in Resolution No. 17-25. Should this proposition be approved? YES...................................... = NO........................................ = The Secretary of the Board of Directors of the District is hereby directed to deliver a certified copy of this resolution to the Whatcom County Auditor. Section 3. For purposes of receiving notice of the exact language of the ballot title required by RCW 29A.36.080, the Board hereby designates (a) the District's Superintendent (Dr. Greg Baker), telephone: 360-676-6501; email: Greg.Baker@bellinghamschools.org; and (b) special counsel, K&L Gates LLP (Cynthia Weed), telephone: 206-618-6050; email: cynthia.weed@klgates.com, as the individuals to whom the Auditor shall provide such notice. The Secretary is authorized to approve changes to the ballot title, if any, deemed necessary by the Auditor or the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney. -4- 509445383.1 PA20287 CMVN20287_8YR 07/10/25 Section 4. Pursuant to authority granted by RCW 29A.32.220, the Board of Directors hereby authorizes the District's participation in the local voters' pamphlet for the November 4, 2025 election and requests that the Whatcom County Auditor prepare and publish a voters' pamphlet for this proposition. The District understands and agrees that it will be required to pay its proportionate share of the expenses of the voters' pamphlet. ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 1 Oth day of July, 2025. BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501, WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON az�� President and Director Director Director ector Director ATTEST: AA, &�m Sec etary, Board a erectors -5- P120287 CMVN20287 8YR 07/10/25 509445383.1 n OFFICIAL BALLOT BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON November 4, 2025 INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS: To vote in favor of the following proposition, place a cross (X) in the square opposite the words "YES"; to vote against the following proposition, place a cross (X) in the square opposite the words "NO." PROPOSITION NO. 1 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 (BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS) SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS LEVY Given the Washington State Legislature enacted Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2049 (ESHB 2049) which expanded the District's levy authority, the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501 adopted Resolution No. 17-25 authorizing a supplemental levy for educational funding. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following tax levies as a supplement to the levies approved by the voters in the February 2024 election, on all taxable property within the District to support the district's educational operations which are not funded or fully funded by the State: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2026 $ 0.13 $ 4,000,000 2027 $ 0.13 $ 4,000,000 2028 $ 0.16 $ 5,000,000 all as provided in Resolution No. 17-25. Should this proposition be approved? YES...................................... NO........................................ 0 509445383.1 NOTICE BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON November 4, 2025 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 4, 2025, a special election will be held by mail ballot in the above -named school district for the submission to the qualified electors of said school district of the following proposition: PROPOSITION NO. I BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 (BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS) SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS LEVY Given the Washington State Legislature enacted Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2049 (ESHB 2049) which expanded the District's levy authority, the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501 adopted Resolution No. 17-25 authorizing a supplemental levy for educational funding. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following tax levies as a supplement to the levies approved by the voters in the February 2024 election, on all taxable property within the District to support the district's educational operations which are not funded or fully funded by the State: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2026 $ 0.13 $ 4,000,000 2027 $ 0.13 $ 4,000,000 2028 $ 0.16 $ 5,000,000 all as provided in Resolution No. 17-25. Should this proposition be approved? YES...................................... 0 NO........................................ = Whatcom County Auditor 509445383.1 CERTIFICATE I, the undersigned, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington, (the "District") and keeper of the records of the Board of Directors (the "Board"), DO HEREBY CERTIFY: 1. That the attached resolution is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 17-25 of the Board (the "Resolution"), duly adopted at a regular meeting thereof held on the loth day of July, 2025. 2. That said meeting was duly convened and held in all respects in accordance with law, and to the extent required by law, due and proper notice of such meeting was given; that a legal quorum was present throughout the meeting and a legally sufficient number of members of the Board voted in the proper manner for the adoption of the Resolution; that all other requirements and proceedings incident to the proper adoption of the Resolution have been duly fulfilled, carried out and otherwise observed; and that I am authorized to execute this certificate. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this loth day of July, 2025. 21S. -777 Secr tart', Board of Directors 509445383.1 Election Date: November 4, 2025 Name of Jurisdiction Submitting Measure: Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington Contact Name: Cynthia Weed Daytime Contact Phone Number: 206-618-6050 Word Count - 100 EXPLANATORY STATEMENT - PROPOSITION NO. I This levy, in accordance with Resolution No. 17-25, supplements teaching and learning costs not adequately funded by the state and would provide funding for essential educational support for all students. Passage of Proposition No. 1 allows a supplemental levy of $4,000,000 in property taxes within Bellingham School District for collection in 2026, $4,000,000 in 2027, and $5,000,000 in 2028 to supplement the levies approved by voters in February 2024. Estimated supplemental levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value may be $0.13 (2026 and 2027 collection), and $0.16 (2028 collection). Exact rates shall be determined at the time of the levy. 609470868.2