Seattle voters showed strong support for levy proposals to provide funds for the school system's operating and capital budgets.
The Seattle Times reports that the 52,000-student district was winning approval of the six-year $475 million Buildings, Technology and Academics IV Capital Levy as well as a three-year $758 million operations levy. Both levies are renewals of existing tax authorizations that are expiring.
The infusion of capital funds would ease classroom crowding. Much of the money is earmarked for renovating and opening three elementary schools — E.C. Hughes, Magnolia and Webster. Those buildings will provide an additional 1,500 seats to accommodate projected growth in student enrollment.
Funding also would pay for a 500-student addition at Ingraham High School.
Seattle experienced enrollment declines in the early 2000s, but since its numbers bottomed out in 2007, the district has added more than 7,000 students.
The opeartions levy approved by voters represents more than 25 percent of the school system's operating budget, the district says.
