2022 Capital Levy
BTA V Capital Levy
The Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics Capital Levy V (BTA V) will be on the ballot for February 2022. It is a replacement for BTA IV, which expires in 2022.
Capital levies are the primary funding source to ensure that every student has a safe, welcoming learning environment. School districts receive limited state or federal funding for improvements to school buildings.
Seattle Public Schools relies on voter-approved capital levies to fund school construction and renovations, safety and security upgrades, building systems improvements, and major maintenance.
Capital levies provide most of the funding for important classroom technology and support for student learning, district technology systems, and technology infrastructure.
Three Parts to Levy
B stands for Buildings: This portion of the levy includes projects that improve our school buildings. Examples of projects include roof replacements, small renovations, safety improvements and upgrades, heating and ventilation improvements, major maintenance, and critical maintenance.
T stands for Technology: Capital levies provide the primary funding source for making strategic investments in technology for learning and teaching in the classroom; delivering services to students, teachers, staff, and families; and improving efficiency in business processes. Projects and services fall into three major categories: student learning and support, district systems and data, infrastructure, and security
A stands for Academic/Athletics: This portion of the levy pays for modifications needed for academic program changes, playground improvements, athletic field improvements and equipment, and art and science equipment. In addition, SPS owns Memorial Stadium, and the levy includes funding to invest in new grandstands so it can continue to be used for high school athletics, for graduations, and by the community.
Cost of BTA V
The total levy amount would be $783 million over six years. The levy would be collected from 2023-2028. If approved, property owners would continue to pay for a BTA capital levy when the BTA IV levy expires in 2022. The replacement rate is estimated to be 47 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The rate approved by voters in 2016 was 43 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
BTA V Projects
Additional details about what the levy funds and school-specific project lists are below.