Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
HB 1244
Brief Description: Increasing the maximum per pupil limit for enrichment levy authority.
Sponsors: Representatives Ramel, Bergquist, Peterson, Ortiz-Self, Stonier, Lekanoff, Slatter, Hackney, Entenman, Simmons, Senn, Reeves, Reed, Duerr, Doglio, Pollet, Alvarado and Gregerson.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the maximum per-pupil limit used for enrichment levies for school districts with less than 40,000 students over several years to equal the limit used for school districts with 40,000 or more students.
Hearing Date: 1/25/23
Staff: James Mackison (786-7104).
Background:

Local Enrichment Levies.


Local enrichment levies can be approved by voters within a school district as a property tax for enrichment beyond the state's statutory program of basic education.  Enrichment levy collections are capped for school districts at the lesser of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in the district, or $2,500 per pupil increased for inflation ($2,988.32 in 2023) for school districts with less than 40,000 students.  School districts with 40,000 or more students subject to a per-pupil limit are allowed to collect up to $3,000 per pupil adjusted for inflation ($3,585,99 in 2023).
Summary of Bill:

From calendar year 2024 to 2028, an inflation enhancement is added to the maximum per-pupil limit for enrichment levies for districts with fewer than 40,000 students.  "Inflation enhancement" is defined as 3.17 percentage points added to inflation each year from the 2024 to 2028 calendar years.


Beginning in calendar year 2029, all school districts are subject to the $3,000 plus inflation maximum per-pupil limit.


Provisions relating to enrollment stabilization for levies in calendar years 2022 and 2023, which no longer apply after the effective date of the bill, are removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 10, 2023.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2024.