LOS ANGELES - While a small number of school bonds were approved by Washington voters during the state's special election on Tuesday, some lawmakers are working to make future bond proposals easier to pass.
Currently, bond measures require approval from 60% of voters to pass, but Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton, has introduced House Bill 2441, which would lower the requirement to a simple majority.
Her bill was introduced in January and would need two-thirds approval in both Washington's Senate and House to be put on a November ballot.
The bill is sponsored by 19 other representatives.
The legislation was introduced ahead of the state's special district elections, during which most of the proposed school bonds failed.
However, voters did approve a handful of measures, authorizing over $580 million of bonds, according to preliminary results posted to the
Those results are unofficial until the election is certified by Feb. 25.
One of the largest bond measures to pass was a $275 million general obligation bond for Edmonds School District No. 15 in Snohomish County, Wash.
Preliminary numbers show the bond passing with 63.1% of voter approval.
The bonds will finance capital improvement and school construction, including safety and ventilation improvements, relocating and replacing various elementary and middle schools, and adding classroom capacity to various schools.
The Northshore School District No. 417, which serves the Washington cities of Bothell, Kenmore, and Woodinville, also had its bond measure pass by 63.4%, according to early numbers. Voters approved a $177.5 million GO bond to help construct a high school to address enrollment growth, complete the remodel of another high school, and complete other district-wide projects to support classroom learning.
"The capital projects bond helps us work towards a long-term solution to enrollment growth, complete the Woodinville High School renovation and better align our instructional program to the needs of kids," said Larry Francois, superintendent. "These measures don't solve all of our challenges, but they certainly make them more manageable."
Mukilteo School District's $120 million bond passed with 63.7% and Sunnyside School district's $10 million bond passed with 63.6%.
Other bond measures passed in the North Thurston School District and Tumwater School District.
According to the Secretary of State's office 270 of 283 measures on the February ballot were levies or bonds in 220 districts.
Elections were held in 36 counties throughout the state.
