Washington State House Democrats

Springer proposes $100 million for school construction

House Bill 2170 would use bonding capacity to help schools and property-tax payers

February 21, 2005

OLYMPIA–State Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, today proposed a small change to state law that would generate big money: an estimated $100 million to build and repair schools in Washington.

"Putting $100 million into school construction would help schools, kids and property-tax payers at the same time," said Springer. "With interest rates as low as they are, now is the time to seize the day."

Springer’s proposal would eliminate a restriction on existing real estate excise taxes that prevents them from being used to increase bonding capacity for school construction.

State coffers paid about two-thirds (64%) of total school construction funding in the mid-1980s, with local property taxes picking up the other third. But by 2001, local property taxes were paying about 70 percent of total school construction costs.

The state bumped up its share of these costs in 2003, but local property taxes are still paying a far larger share of school construction costs than they paid 20 years ago.

"Home owners need property-tax relief," said Springer. "Reducing the property-tax share of school construction costs would be a big help."

Springer worked with House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) and House Capital Budget Chair Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish) to develop the proposal.

House Bill 2170 will be considered by the Capital Budget Committee.