Contents

  • Summary
  • Taxpayer cost impact estimate calculators
    • La Center SD
    • Lopez SD
    • Ridgefield SD
    • Skykomish SD
  • Calculator methodology

Summary

For the August 2nd, 2022 election:

  • There are 4 school district measures across the state.
  • All 4 are enrichment levies.

Levy summary table

As analyses are completed, summary results will be provided on this page.

Taxpayer cost impact estimate calculators

Calculator for the La Center SD’s Measure

Calculator for the Lopez SD’s Measure

Calculator for the Ridgefield SD’s Measure

Calculator for the Skykomish SD’s Measure

Calculator methodology

For these property tax impact estimate calculators, a Proportional Obligation Factor (POF) method was used.

Using the 2022 Total District Assessed Value (AV), the POF of the sample parcel was calculated:

POF = (2022 Sample Parcel AV) / (2022 Total District AV)

The POF was then multiplied by the total amount that the district expects to collect each year for the duration of the measure in question (bond or levy) to obtain the estimated taxes for the sample parcel for the measure.

Using this methodology, it doesn’t matter if all properties increase in AV by 10% or all decrease in AV by 10% (which could happen in a recession). The tax collection schedule shown in the charts and tables would still apply for the sample parcel. The sample parcel’s proportion of obligation for the bond debt or levy remains the same over the bond payback or levy period. Tax rates, however, would change. If all properties increase in AV by 10%, the tax rate for the measures would decrease by approximately 10%. If all properties decrease in AV by 10%, the tax rate for the measures would increase by approximately 10%.

Note for the POF annual change parameter for the enhanced calculator versions:

For parcels that are increasing in POF (Proportional Obligation Factor), a positive POF annual change will give more accurate results. For parcels that are decreasing in POF due to rapid new construction or for other reasons, a negative POF annual change will give more accurate results. However a value of 0 will generally be slightly conservative and will generate estimates that are usually within 5% of actual costs.

It is the author’s opinion that county assessors (in all 39 WA counties) should be providing these calculators for their constituents.

Example calculator calculation:

Issaquah SD

Total District AV for 2022: $40,480,082,421

Sampler parcel AV for 2022: $1,100,000

POF for 2022 assumed to be the same for years 2023 - 2026: $1,100,000 / 40,480,082,421 = 2.717E-5

Enhancement Levy amount to collect in 2023: $61,000,000

Sampler parcel’s 2023 tax for the Enhancement Levy: POF * (Enhancement Levy amount to collect in 2023) = 2.717E-5 * $61,000,000 = $1,658

Similarly for the years 2024 - 2026

2024 tax = 2.717E-5 * $64,000,000 = $1,739

2025 tax = 2.717E-5 * $67,000,000 = $1,821

2026 tax = 2.717E-5 * $70,000,000 = $1,902