Please email the sponsors of HB1244 and our local legislators THIS WEEK, by 3/5! If you have questions, please email advocacy@mihsptsa.org
Instructions:
Copy and paste these emails into the recipient field. (It’s ideal if you can do it in small batches so it doesn’t get sent to spam)
alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov
lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov
monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov
steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov
debra.entenman@leg.wa.gov
Julia.reed@leg.wa.gov
Emily.Alvarado@leg.wa.gov
debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov
Beth.Doglio@leg.wa.gov
Davina.Duerr@leg.wa.gov
Copy and paste into the CC line: (these are our 41st district representatives (and their assistants) and can help advocate:
Copy and paste into the subject line: Request for an amendment to HB1244 to begin levy equalization in 2024
Copy and paste this text into the Body of the email:
Dear Representatives Ramel, Ortiz-Self, Stonier, Bergquist, Entenman, Reed, Alvarado, Lekanoff, Simmons, Duerr, Gregerson, Slatter, Hackney, Simmons, Senn, Reeves, Reed, Duerr, Doglio, and Pollet,
I am emailing to thank you for sponsoring HB1244, concerning local levy authority, and to ask for changes that would enable us to meet the needs of our students on a faster timeline. Specifically, I’d like to ask your support for an amendment to change the implementation date to 2024, rather than the current long phase-in to 2029.
School districts across the state, including ours, are facing significant budget shortfalls of up to 10% for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year and beyond. Since McCleary legislation passed the landscape has changed. Our district has been impacted by COVID expenses, enrollment declines, special education funding gaps, and reductions in what we are allowed to raise through our local levy.
We frequently make up the difference between what the state funds and our remaining student needs, including special education, using our local EP&O levy. In 2017, the legislature capped the levy amount that districts like ours, with fewer than 40,000 students, can raise via the EP&O levy. We appreciate that your bill contains language to equalize the levy cap amount for all districts, however, the timeline is too far out.
Many communities, including ours, have a history of strong school support and passing local levies. Our community is asking for an amendment for the equalization of the per student levy cap to happen in 2024, not 2029, enabling districts to address our current funding challenges more quickly. Please reinstate our ability to raise the additional funding we need to deliver on basic education and special education, as mandated by the state.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Enter your name, parent of XXX kids in the 41st legislative district
