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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 - Ferndale School District No. 502 Prop 2024-11 School Programs and Operations Replacement LevyWhatcom County Auditor's Office Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue, Suite iO3 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 March 15, 2024 Election Results Receipt Stacy Henthorn County Auditor Amy Grasher Chief Deputy Auditor Copies of the following proposition election results from the February i3, 2024 Special Election, have been delivered to the Assessor's and Treasurer's Office: o Bellingham School District 501: Proposition 2024-12 Replacement Educational Support and Operations Levy and Proposition 2024-i3 Replacement Technology Capital Projects Levy • Ferndale School District 502: Proposition 2024-11, School Programs and Operations Replacement Levy Blaine School District 503: Proposition 2024-07, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy and Proposition 2024-o8, General Obligations Bonds - $70,000,000 9 Lynden School District 504: Proposition 2024-01 Renewal of Educational Programs and Operations Levy and Proposition 2024-02 General Obligations Bond - $157,500,000 Meridian School District 505: Proposition 2024-09, Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy and Proposition 2024-io, Replacement Technology Capital Projects Levy Nooksack Valley School District 5o6: Proposition 2024-04, Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy Mt Baker School District 507: Proposition 2024-05, Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy and Proposition 2024-o6, Renewal Capital Projects Levy ® Concrete School District No. ii: Proposition No. 1, Replacement of Expiring Levy for Educational Programs and Operations and Proposition No. z, Capital Levy for Safety, Security and Accessibility Improvements ■ Fire Protection District 8: Proposition 2024-i4, Tax Levy for Maintenance, Facilities and Operations ® Blaine -Birch Bay Park & Recreation District 2: Proposition 2024-03, Authorizing Continuing Property Tax Levy Receipt Acknowledged: Assessor's Office: 4 Reb cca czar , Date Treasurer's Office: Steven OIiver ❑a e Page 2 Statement of Votes Cast by Geography Page: 1 of 1 Whatcom County, Washington, February Special, Feb 13, 2024 2024-02-23 All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, FSD 502 Prop 2024-11 Sch Programs 09:27:25 & Ope Replacement Levy, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 9787, Registered Voters: 159750, Overall Turnout. 6.13% Choice Votes Vote % All Precincts FSD 502 Prop 2024-11 Sch Programs & Ope Replacement Levy (Vote for 1) 9787 ballots (1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 19 undervotes), 25539 registered voters, turnout 38.32% Yes 5402 55.31 % No 4365 44.69% Total 9767 100.00% Overvotes 1 Undervotes 19 STATE OF WASHINGTON ) ) ss COUNTY OF WHATCOM ) This is to certify that on February 13, 2024, there was held a special election in Ferndale School District 502, Whatcom County, Washington, for the submission of a ballot measure to the voters for their approval or rejection. The results of the election were duly canvassed by the Whatcom County Canvassing Board on February, 23, 2024, and the results of said canvass are as reads above. Dated this 29" day of February, 2024, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. �n Stacy Henthor County Auditor Final Language Ballot Title Ferndale School District 502 Proposition 2024-11 School Programs and Operations Replacement Levy The Board of Directors of Ferndale School District 502 adopted Resolution No. 15-23 concerning educational funding. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following excess taxes, to replace an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, to maintain and support the District's educational programs and operations, which are not funded or not fully funded by the State: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Years _� Assessed Value 2025 �_ $1.45 2026 — _ — $1.48 2027 $1.50 2028 — $1.52 all as provided in the Resolution. Should this proposition be approved? Yes No Explanatory Statement Levy Amount $14,000,000 $15,000,000 $16,000,000 $17,000,000 Passage of Proposition 2024-11 allows the levy of: $14,000,000 in property taxes within Ferndale School District 502 for collection in 2025, $15,000,000 in 2026, $16,000,000 in 2027, and $17,000,000 in 2028 to replace an expiring levy. This levy, in accordance with Resolution No. 15-23, would be used to pay certain costs of educational and operations support. Based on projected information, estimated levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value may be $1.45 (2025 collection), $1.48 (2026 collection), $1.50 (2027 collection), and $1.52 (2028 collection). The exact levy rate shall be determined at the time of the levy. eli coG. Whatcom County Auditor's Office Ballot Measure Coversheet District Name: Ferndale School District No. 502 District Address: 6041 Vista Drive, Ferndale, WA 98248 Contact Person t Mark Deebach, Assistant Superintendent Name & Title (360) 383-9203 mark.deebach@ferndalesd.org Phone & email Cynthia M. Weed Name & Title (206) 623-7580 Phone & email Contact Person 2 Holly Graham, Director of Finance Name & Title (360) 383-9209 holly.graham@ferndalesd.org Phone & email ---- ---Iu- cynthia.weed@klgates.com Resolution with original signatures or a certified copy Explanatory Statement prepared by your attorney, not to exceed ioo words "For" and "Against" Committee Appointment Forms Completed Ballot Measure Coversheet Complete if anything is missing... I understand that the deadline to submit the missing information is I L-- 1c:� - 23 . The Auditor's Office will not begin processing this ballot measure until all required documents have been submitted. Present is Anature Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? Q Yes ® No (circle one) Yes No Yes No Received In Person DEC 13 2023 Whatcom County Elections Deputy Auditor's Signature This form is available in a fillable form on the Auditor's website: hupsjj- yvw v �SLC�nr�icoun[y.0 j35g3fJ5ICt LC29 Election Date: February 13, 2024 Name of Jurisdiction Submitting Measure: Ferndale School District No. 502, Whatcom County, Washington Contact Name: Cynthia Weed Daytime Contact Phone Number: 206-370-7801; cell phone: 206-618-6050 Word Count - 98 EXPLANATORY STATEMENT - PROPOSITION NO. 1 Passage of Proposition No. 1 allows the levy of. $14,000,000 in property taxes within Ferndale School District No. 502 for collection in 2025, $15,000,000 in 2026, $16,000,000 in 2027, and $17,000,000 in 2028 to replace an expiring levy. This levy, in accordance with Resolution No. 15-23, would be used to pay certain costs of educational and operations support. Based on projected information, estimated levy rates per $1,000 of assessed value may be $1.45 (2025 collection), $1.48 (2026 collection), $1.50 (2027 collection), and $1.52 (2028 collection). The exact levy rate shall be determined at the time of the levy. Received By Email DEC 13 2023 Whatcom County Elections 5507031866.1 Received In Person DEC 13 2023 Whatcom County Elections OPTION A FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS REPLACEMENT LEVY RESOLUTION NO. 15-23 A RESOLUTION of the Board of Directors of Ferndale School District No. 502, Whatcom County, Washington, providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the District at a special election to be held therein on February 13, 2024, of the proposition of whether excess taxes should be levied of $14,000,000 in 2024 for collection in 2025, $15,000,000 in 2025 for collection in 2026, $16,000000 in 2026 for collection in 2027, and $17,000,000 in 2027 for collection in 2028, said excess taxes to pay part of the educational programs and operations support of the District. ADOPTED OCTOBER 30, 2023 PREPARED BY: K&L GATES LLP Seattle, Washington RESOLUTION NO. 15-23 A RESOLUTION of the Board of Directors of Ferndale School District No. 502, Whatcom County, Washington, providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the District at a special election to be held therein on February 13, 2024, of the proposition of whether excess taxes should be levied of $14,000,000 in 2024 for collection in 2025, $15,000,000 in 2025 for collection in 2026, $16,000000 in 2026 for collection in 2027, and $17,000,000 in 2027 for collection in 2028, said excess taxes to pay part of the educational programs and operations support of the District. WHEREAS, Ferndale School District No. 502, Whatcom County, Washington (the "District"), for the past four years -has had in effect a maintenance and operations levy in order to enable the District to pay for its educational programs and services, including teaching, school supplies, technology, athletics, buildings and transportation; and WHEREAS, the current maintenance and operations levies expire this year; and WHEREAS, the money in and to be paid into the General Fund of the District during the 2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years will be insufficient to enable the District to pay for necessary educational programs and operations and to properly meet the educational needs of the students attending District schools; and WHEREAS, the existing authority for the imposition of local tax levies and use of local revenues (including the proceeds of tax levies) has been modified most recently by Chapter 410, Laws of 2019 (66th Legislature, Regular Session) and may be modified in the future by the State Legislature; and WHEREAS, in order to properly provide for such educational programs and operations needs, the Board of Directors of the District deems it necessary to levy the following taxes 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 $1.45 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $14,000,000, said levy to be made in 2024 for collection in 2025; B. A tax of approximately $1.48 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $15,000,000, said levy to be made in 2025 for collection in 2026; C. A tax of approximately $1.50 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $16,000,000, said levy to be made in 2026 for collection in 2027; D. A tax of approximately $1.52 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to provide $17,000,000, said levy to be made in 2027 for collection in 2028; and WHEREAS, in the event the State Legislature increases education funding to the District, the District would, therefore, intend to roll back the levies provided for herein; WHEREAS, prior to the time the ballot proposition authorized in this resolution is submitted to the voters, the District will have received approval of its educational programs and operations/enrichment tax levy expenditure plan from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as required under RCW 84.52.053(4); and 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 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502, WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON, as follows: Section 1. The following taxes 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: -2- 507081910.1 A. $14,000,000, said levy to be made in 2024 for collection in 2025; B. $15,000,000, said levy to be made in 2025 for collection in 2026; C. $16,000,000, said levy to be made in 2026 for collection in 2027; and D. $17,000,000, said levy to be made in 2027 for collection in 2028. 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 2024 levy is $1.45 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, the estimated levy rate for the 2025 levy is $1.48 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, the estimated levy rate for the 2026 levy is $1.50 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation and the estimated levy rate for the 2027 levy is $1.52 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 2024-2025, 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 programs 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 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 February 13, 2024. -3- 507081910.1 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 within the District in Whatcom County on said date and to submit to the qualified electors of the District the proposition 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: PROPOSITION NO. 1 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502 SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS REPLACEMENT LEVY The Board of Directors of Ferndale School District adopted Resolution No. 15-23 concerning educational funding. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following excess taxes, to replace an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, to maintain and support the District's educational programs and operations, which are not funded or not fully funded by the State: Collection Years Approximate Levy Rate/$1,000 Assessed Value 2025 $1.45 2026 $1.48 2027 $1.50 2028 $1.52 Levy Amount $14,000,000 $15,000,000 $16,000,000 $17,000,000 all as provided in the Resolution. Should this proposition be approved? YES...................................... NO........................................ U 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 Assistant -4- 507081910.1 Superintendent, Business & Support Services (Mark Deebach), telephone: 360-383-9203; email: mark.deebach@ferndalesd.org; and (b) special counsel, K&L Gates LLP (Cynthia Weed) telephone: 206-370-7801; cell: 206-618-6050; email: cynthia.weed@klgates.com, as the individuals to whom the Whatcom County Auditor shall provide such notice. The Assistant Superintendent, Business & Support Services is authorized to approve changes to the ballot title, if any, deemed necessary by Whatcom County Auditor or the Office of the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney, 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 February 13, 2024 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. -5- 507061910.1 ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of Ferndale School District No. 502, Whatcom County, Washington, at a special meeting thereof, held on the 30th day of October, 2023. FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502, WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Director Director Director Director ATTEST: re ry, Board of Directors -6- 507081910.1 CERTIFICATE I, the undersigned, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Ferndale School District No. 502, Whatcom County, Washington, (the "District") and keeper of the records of the Board of Directors (the "Board"), DO HEREBY CERTIFY: That the attached resolution is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 15-23 of the Board (the "Resolution"), duly adopted at a special meeting thereof held on the 30th day of October, 2023. 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 30th day of October, 2023. (-,- n-7 i "�-15,-detary, Board of Directors 507081910.1 OFFICIAL BALLOT FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON February 13, 2024 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. 1 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502 SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS REPLACEMENT LEVY The Board of Directors of Ferndale School District adopted Resolution No. 15-23 concerning educational funding. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following excess taxes, to replace an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, to maintain and support the District's educational programs and operations, which are not funded or not fully funded by the State: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2025 $1.45 $14,000,000 2026 $1.48 $15,000,000 2027 $1.50 $16,000,000 2028 $1.52 $17,000,000 all as provided in the Resolution. Should this proposition be approved? YES...................................... NO........................................ 0 507081910.1 NOTICE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON February 13, 2024 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 13, 2024, a special election will be held in the above -named school district for the submission to the qualified electors of said school district of the following proposition: PROPOSITION NO. 1 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 502 SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS REPLACEMENT LEVY The Board of Directors of Ferndale School District adopted Resolution No. 15-23 concerning educational funding. This proposition authorizes the District to levy the following excess taxes, to replace an expiring levy, on all taxable property within the District, to maintain and support the District's educational programs and operations, which are not funded or not fully funded by the State: Approximate Collection Levy Rate/$1,000 Levy Years Assessed Value Amount 2025 $1.45 $14,000,000 2026 $1.48 $15,000,000 2027 $1.50 $16,000,000 2028 $1.52 $17,000,000 all as provided in the Resolution. Should this proposition be approved? YES...................................... NO.................................. Whatcom County Auditor 507081910.1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY STATE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY OF Whatcom I CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF A DOCUMENT IN THE POSSESSION OF Kristen Newberry, Ferndale School District AS OF THIS DATE December 1, 2023 NOTARY PUBLIC Jt NAME PRINTED Tamera J. Longstaff MY APPOINTMENT EXPIRES June 3, 2024 s �T tp Aq� . -n — a 4VW ifI 7j,'�:4,3 %%\ This notarization is attached to a School Programs and Operations Replacement Levy Resolution No. 15-23 Making this page 11 of 11 page document.