(The Center Square) – Supporters of lowering the threshold for passing a school bond measure will try again in the upcoming legislative session in Washington.
According to Education Week , Washington is one of 10 states in the country that require greater than 50% approval to pass school bonds.
Bonds provide funding for capital projects, including the purchase of property for a new school, the construction of buildings, or the modernization of existing schools. Bonds are sold to investors and repaid with interest over time from local property tax collections.
School levies only require a simple majority for passage. In Washington, most levy dollars are spent on staff compensation.
Bonds require a supermajority – 60% – to pass and require voter turnout of at least 40% of the voters who cast a ballot in the last general election.
Six other states also require 60% approval for school bond measures, while Idaho requires two-thirds approval for passage.
Because of the higher threshold, many districts have a tough time getting bond measures approved, often putting them before voters multiple times over several years without success.