Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 2, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Property tax credit means millions for Kitsap schools, Locke says

BERMERTON — Gov. Gary Locke and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Terry Bergeson visited Bremerton High School today to explain how communities in Kitsap County could keep millions of dollars for local education if the Legislature enacts the governor's proposed property tax credit.

The proposed Learning Improvement Property Tax Credit is in a bill (Senate Bill 6470) pending in the Legislature. The bill would let local communities keep a portion of property taxes that now flow into the state treasury to improve their schools. The proposal contains no tax increase.

"This is an opportunity to let local school boards invest more than $1 billion over five years in their schools by hiring more highly qualified teachers, extending learning opportunities and building new facilities," Locke said.

The proposed legislation would allow school boards to vote to invest up to $140 per student in 2001-2003, increasing to $450 per student in 2004 and thereafter.

When the credit is $140 per pupil, Kitsap County schools could keep almost $5.7 million per year. When the credit is $450 per pupil, almost $18.5 million could be invested annually in the county's schools. Credits of $140 per student would mean $847,375 million annually for Bremerton; the $450 credit would mean more than $2.7 million.

Districts could use the money to:

Reduce class sizes in grades K-6 to improve the classroom environment by allowing teachers more time to work with students and parents.

Extend learning opportunities before and after school and on weekends, intercession and in summer school.

Develop pre-school programs to better prepare children for kindergarten.

Improve existing schools or build new ones to accomplish these goals.
The state has used the same tax credit mechanism to fund the baseball and football stadiums in Seattle, business tax credits throughout the state and economic assistance to rural counties. The proposal complies with initiatives 601 and 695 and amends neither. A simple majority of the 2000 Legislature can enact SB6470.

Locke was joined by Bergeson; Carol Whitehead, superintendent of the Bremerton School District; and Russ Hartman, school board vice president.

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