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Home My WebLink About2025 - Bellingham School District No. 501 Proposition 2025-06 Facilities Maintenance Levy - General and Special Election November 05, 2025Whatcom County Auditor's Office Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 December 2, 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 • Fire Protection District 7, Proposition 2025-08, Restoring Regular Property Tax Levy Fire Protection District 18, Proposition 2025-10, Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Receipt Acknpw e gg Assessor's Office: Rebecca Xczar Treasurer's Office: Steven Oliver 1 �� Date 1a-3 -goas Date Summary Report Page: 1 of 1 Whatcom County, Washington, GENERAL 2025, Nov 04, 2025 2025-11-24 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, BSD 501 Prop 2025-05 Supplemental 16:43:28 Operations Levy, BSD 501 Prop 2025-06 Facilities Maintenance Levy, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 39563, Re istered Voters: 169242, Overall Turnout: 23.38% mmw�Choice Votes Vote % All Precincts BSD Sol 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 30.94% Total 37695 100.00% Overvotes 4 Undervotes 1864 BSD 501 Prop 2025-06 Facilities Maintenance Levy (Vote for 1) 39563 ballots 1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 2325 undervotes), 81804 registered voters, turnout 48.36% Yes 24023 64.51 % No 13214 35,49% 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 Language Ballot Title Bellingham School District 501 Proposition 2025-06 Facilities Maintenance Levy The Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 18-25 concerning a capital projects levy. This proposition authorizes renovation and replacement of facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer economical, and other capital projects, and authorizes the district to levy the following excess levies for such purposes on all taxable property within the district: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Value _Amount _Years 2026 _Assessed $0.36 $11,000,000 2027 $0.35 $11,000,000 2028 $0.34 $11,000,000 2029 $0.33 $11,000,000 2030 $0.32 $11,000,000 2031 $ 0.31 $11,000,000 all as provided in District Resolution No. 18-25. Should this proposition be approved? Yes No Explanatory Statement This facilities maintenance levy, in accordance with Resolution No. 18-25, helps preserve and protect funds for the classroom by funding safety improvements and major system repairs in our schools. Passage of Proposition 2025-06 allows a levy of $11,000,000 per year in property taxes within the District for collection for six years, from 2026 through 2031. Approximate levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value may be $0.36 (2026 collection), $0.35 (2027 collection), $0.34 (2028 collection), $0.33 (2029 collection), $0.32 (2030 collection) and $0.31 (2031 collection). Exact rates shall be determined at the time of the levy. g G C District Name District Address: Whatcom County Auditor's Office Ballot Measure Coversheet Bellingham School District No. 501 (Bellingham Public Schools) 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 lop t Attorney Information Cynthia M. Weed, K&L Gates LLP Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? Name (206) 370 7801 cynthia.weed@kigates.com ®i 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 O No Completed Ballot Measure Coversheet Auditor's Office Use Received In Person JUL 2 4 2025 whatcom county Elections _ _o , Proposition/Initiative Numbra q Deputy Auditor's Signature Yes 0 No 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 10,25 Whatcom County Elections BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 WHATCOM COUNTY WASHINGTON FACILITIES MAINTENANCE LEVY RESOLUTION NO. 18-25 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 a proposition to authorize the District to levy an additional tax to provide a total of $66,000,000 for the District's Capital Projects Fund for the renovation and replacement of facilities and systems, and other capital projects, such levies to be made for six years commencing in 2025 for collection in the calendar years from 2026 through 2031. ADOPTED DULY 10, 2025 509359067.1 RESOLUTION NO. 18-25 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 a proposition to authorize the District to levy an additional tax to provide a total of $66,000,000 for the District's Capital Projects Fund for the renovation and replacement of facilities and systems, and other capital projects, such levies to be made for six years commencing in 2025 for collection in the calendar years from 2026 through 2031. WHEREAS, the educational facilities of the District are in need of renovation and replacement of its facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer economical or extend the useful life of the facility or system beyond its original planned useful life; and WHEREAS, funds available to the District will be insufficient to enable the District to implement such modernization improvements; and WHEREAS, in order to support the cost of these improvements as found necessary by the Board of Directors, it is deemed advisable that the District levy a tax upon all the taxable property within the District, such levy to be made for six years commencing in 2025 for collection in the calendar years from 2026 through 2031 inclusive, as authorized by Article VII, Section 2 of the State Constitution and RCW 84.52.053; and WHEREAS, the question of whether or not such excess tax may be levied must be submitted to the qualified electors of the District for their ratification or rejection; and WHEREAS, the conditions here and above set forth require the holding of a special election in the District; 509359067.1 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501, WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON as follows: Section 1. Findin . It is hereby found and declared that the welfare of the students and other residents of the District requires the District to carry out the improvements hereinafter provided. Section 2. Authorization of Improvements. The District shall modernize its educational and operational facilities through the construction, modernization, replacement and remodeling of new and existing facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer economical or extend the useful life of the facility or system beyond its original planned useful life and also to meet clean buildings performance standards. In addition, the District shall make other necessary capital equipment purchases and facility improvements to modernize District facilities and safety systems and shall make other capital projects expenditures as found necessary by the Board of Directors. The District may repay any obligations hereafter incurred for the foregoing purposes. If available funds are sufficient, the District shall acquire, construct, equip and make other capital improvements to the facilities of the District, all as the Board of Directors finds necessary; provided that such funds may be used only to support the construction, modernization, replacement, and remodeling of or maintenance of school facilities, as permitted by law. If the District shall determine that it has become impracticable to accomplish any of such improvements or portions thereof by reason of changed conditions or needs, incompatible development, costs substantially in excess of those estimated, or acquisition by a superior bra 509359067.1 governmental authority, the District shall not be required to accomplish such improvement and may apply levy proceeds as set forth in this section. If any or all of the improvements have been completed, or their completion duly provided for, or their completion found to be impractical, the District may apply the levy proceeds or any portion thereof to other portions of the improvements or to other capital purposes of the District, as the District in its discretion shall determine. Notwithstanding any provision of this resolution to the contrary, levy proceeds may only be used to support the construction, modernization or remodeling of or maintenance to school facilities and support. Section 3. Authorization of Levies. 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 whether the District shall make the Capital Projects Fund levies for their ratification or rejection at a special election to be held on November 4, 2025 For the purpose of providing funds necessary for the needs described in Section 2 above, the Whatcom County Auditor, as ex officio supervisor of elections in Whatcom County, is hereby requested to call and conduct such special election to be held within the District on such day and to submit to the qualified electors of the District for their approval or rejection, a proposition providing for tax levies for the Capital Projects Fund for s i x years, commencing in 2025, producing dollar amounts at estimated tax rates per thousand dollars of assessed value to produce such amounts, in excess of the maximum amount tax levy permitted by law to be levied within the District without a vote of the electors, all as follows: A. $11,000,000, said levy to be made in 2025 for collection in 2026; and B. $11,000,000, said levy to be made in 2026 for collection in 2027; and -3- 509359067.1 C. $11,000,000, said levy to be made in 2027 for collection in 2028; and D. $11,000,000, said levy to be made in 2028 for collection in 2029; and E. $11,000,000, said levy to be made in 2029 for collection in 2030; and F. $11,000,000, said levy to be made in 2030 for collection in 2031. 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 $0.36 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation; the estimated levy rate for the 2026 levy is $0.35 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation; the estimated levy rate for the 2027 levy is $0.34 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation; the estimated levy rate for the 2028 levy is $0.33 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.; the estimated levy rate for the 2029 levy is $0.32 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation and the estimated levy rate for 2030 levy is $0.31 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. Section 4. Approval of Form of Ballot. The Secretary of the Board of Directors is hereby authorized and directed to certify said proposition to the Whatcom County Auditor, as ex officio supervisor of elections in Whatcom County, substantially in the following form: -4- 509359067.1 PROPOSITION NO. 2 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 (BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS) FACILITIES MAINTENANCE LEVY The Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 18-25 concerning a capital projects levy. This proposition authorizes renovation and replacement of facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer economical, and other capital projects, and authorizes the district to levy the following excess levies for such purposes on all taxable property within the district: Collection Years 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value $0.36 $0.35 $0.34 $0.33 $0.32 $0.31 Levy Amount $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 all as provided in District Resolution No. 18-25. Should this proposition be approved? YES......... ❑ NO......... ❑ The Secretary of the Board of Directors is hereby authorized to deliver a certified copy of this resolution to the Whatcom County Auditor. Section 5. 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: 206-370-7801; 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. -5- 509359067.1 Section 6. Voters' Pamphlet. 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. W 509359067.1 ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of Bellingham School District No. 501, Whatcom County, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this 1 Oth day of July, 2025. BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501, WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON P�A �Preident and Director ATTEST: 2 L41-� -77--- Secretary, Board of Directors -7- 509359067.1 —Director Director Directa - K- Director 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 word "YES"; to vote against the following proposition, place a cross (X) in the square opposite the word "NO." PROPOSITION NO.2 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 (BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS) FACILITIES MAINTENANCE LEVY The Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 18-25 concerning a capital projects levy. This proposition authorizes renovation and replacement of facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer economical, and other capital projects, and authorizes the district to levy the following excess levies for such purposes on all taxable property within the district: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2026 $0.36 $11,000,000 2027 $0.35 $11,000,000 2028 $0.34 $11,000,000 2029 $0.33 $11,000,000 2030 $0.32 $11,000,000 2031 $0.31 $11,000,000 all as provided in District Resolution No. 18-25. Should this proposition be approved? YES......... ❑ NO......... ❑ 509359067.1 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 in the above -named school district for the submission to the qualified electors of said school district of the following proposition: PROPOSITION NO. 2 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 501 (BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS) FACILITIES MAINTENANCE LEVY The Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 18-25 concerning a capital projects levy. This proposition authorizes renovation and replacement of facilities and systems where periodical repairs are no longer economical, and other capital projects, and authorizes the district to levy the following excess levies for such purposes on all taxable property within the district: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2026 $0.36 $11,000,000 2027 $0.35 $11,000,000 2028 $0.34 $11,000,000 2029 $0.33 $11,000,000 2030 $0.32 $11,000,000 2031 $0.31 $11,000,000 all as provided in District Resolution No. 18-25. Should this proposition be approved? YES......... ❑ NO......... ❑ 509359067.1 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. 18-25 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 passage 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 1 Oth day of July, 2025. Secretary, Board of Directors 509359067.1 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.2 This facilities maintenance levy, in accordance with Resolution No. 18-25, helps preserve and protect funds for the classroom by funding safety improvements and major system repairs in our schools. Passage of Proposition No. 2 allows a levy of $11,000,000 per year in property taxes within the District for collection for six years, from 2026 through 2031. Estimated levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value may be $0.36 (2026 collection), $0.35 (2027 collection), $0.34 (2028 collection), $0.33 (2029 collection), $0.32 (2030 collection) and $0.31 (2031 collection). Exact rates shall be determined at the time of the levy. 509359077.1