PORT ANGELES — School bond and levy measures for the Port Angeles and Sequim school districts have been unanimously endorsed by the board of directors of the Clallam County Economic Council.
The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce board has endorsed levy and bond measures for the Port Angeles district.
Ballots for the measures will be mailed to voters Wednesday and must be postmarked by Feb. 10 or deposited in county ballot drop-boxes by that date.
The Port Angeles School District has a two-year replacement maintenance-and-operations levy — collecting $8.6 million for 2016 and $8.8 million for 2017 — along with a separate 25-year, $98.25 million bond measure to replace all high school academic buildings and refurbish the auditorium, or performing arts center.
The Sequim School District is seeking a $49.5 million, 20-year bond that would pay for a new elementary school to replace Helen Haller school, new classrooms at Greywolf Elementary and Sequim High schools, and renovations to Sequim Community School.
Board member Ken Hayes of Sequim, an architect and city councilman, urged the Clallam County Economic Council board members last Thursday to endorse all three measures for the sake of economic development.
“It’s important, as we sit here today, to put personal feelings aside and do what is right to improve the economy across the county,” he said.
“It’s about ensuring we have infrastructure to succeed in our county.”
Members of the Port Angeles chamber agreed that school measures affect economic development, according to a news release issued Friday.
The Port Angeles School District bond issue would cost an estimated $2.06 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, based on 2014 property values.
Two existing Port Angeles bonds costing a total of 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation — one for the construction of Dry Creek Elementary School and another for the remodeling of Jefferson Elementary School — will expire at the end of this year, meaning taxpayers would see a difference of $1.60 per $1,000 on their 2016 tax bills, rather than the full $2.06.
It would cost the owner of a $200,000 home $320 per year more than the current tax rate, or a total of $412 per year.
The Port Angeles schools levy would cost an estimated $3.26 per $1,000 of valuation, or $652.
The Sequim School District’s 20-year bond would cost an estimated 63 cents per $1,000 of property valuation, or $126 a year for the owner of a $200,000 home.
A simple majority, or 50 percent plus one vote, is required for passage of levy measures.
A 60 percent majority is required for voter passage of a school bond issue. Also, there must be a 40 percent voter turnout based on the number of votes cast in the school district in the Nov. 4 general election.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor/News Leah Leach contributed to this report.