Terms
School funding is complicated, so let's do a glossary first.
Bonds. Bonds support buildings in service of learning.
The payback period is set to 20-years, and MISD targets a 15-year payback. The last bond was approved by 74% of voters in 2014 to build Northwood, half of IMS, and 12 classrooms at MIHS ($98M, $172M in today’s dollars).
Levies. Levies are for learning.
There are Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levies for programs not funded by Washington State (voter renewed every 2-4 years). EP&O levies are for payroll, curriculum, programs, and other learning experiences. EP&O levies are capped by the 2012 McCleary decision.
There are Capital Projects & Technology Levies (CapTech) for technology, smaller capital improvements, and salaries for some IT and Maintenance & Operations positions (voter approved for a 2-6 year period).
Washington State. Public School Funding.
The state provides 69% of the MISD budget.
Mercer Island Schools Foundation. Community Funding.
This non-profit organization funded by the Mercer Island community provides critical funding for school resources: curriculum, programs, training, and more.
Mercer Island Youth & Family Services. City and Community Funding.
The City of Mercer Island, the MIYFS Foundation, and the Mercer Island Thrift Store provide funding for mental health counselors in each of our schools.
Bonds. Bonds support buildings in service of learning.
The payback period is set to 20-years, and MISD targets a 15-year payback. The last bond was approved by 74% of voters in 2014 to build Northwood, half of IMS, and 12 classrooms at MIHS ($98M, $172M in today’s dollars).
Levies. Levies are for learning.
There are Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levies for programs not funded by Washington State (voter renewed every 2-4 years). EP&O levies are for payroll, curriculum, programs, and other learning experiences. EP&O levies are capped by the 2012 McCleary decision.
There are Capital Projects & Technology Levies (CapTech) for technology, smaller capital improvements, and salaries for some IT and Maintenance & Operations positions (voter approved for a 2-6 year period).
Washington State. Public School Funding.
The state provides 69% of the MISD budget.
Mercer Island Schools Foundation. Community Funding.
This non-profit organization funded by the Mercer Island community provides critical funding for school resources: curriculum, programs, training, and more.
Mercer Island Youth & Family Services. City and Community Funding.
The City of Mercer Island, the MIYFS Foundation, and the Mercer Island Thrift Store provide funding for mental health counselors in each of our schools.
Landscape of school funding
Hang on, here we go....school funding is complex. Notice the colors, the colors are your friends.
This diagram shows a few things that may not be well understood. If a picture's worth a thousand words, this gets you just about a thousand words regarding the flow of funding.
Levies & Bonds. Mercer Island voters approve levies and bonds (EP&O, CapTech, and Bonds) which are part of our property taxes. These voter approved funds go directly to MISD. This is labeled 'School' on your property tax statement and is $1.44 per thousand assessed value.
Washington State Funding. The remainder of your property taxes go to King County ($2.19 per thousand, labelled County, Port, Library, EMS, and Flood on your tax statement), the City of Mercer Island ($0.73 per thousand, labelled City on your tax statement), and into the State School Fund ($2.51 per thousand). Washington State provides funding to all school districts across the state, and a portion of what Mercer Island taxpayers pay into the State School Fund comes back to the MISD.
Federal Government Grants and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services also contribute to the MISD. There's some smaller things that contribute to funding the MISD like room rentals, and those aren't shown.
Now you know where the money flows. There are restrictions about how the money can be used by MISD, and MISD is compliant and passes audit.
This diagram shows a few things that may not be well understood. If a picture's worth a thousand words, this gets you just about a thousand words regarding the flow of funding.
Levies & Bonds. Mercer Island voters approve levies and bonds (EP&O, CapTech, and Bonds) which are part of our property taxes. These voter approved funds go directly to MISD. This is labeled 'School' on your property tax statement and is $1.44 per thousand assessed value.
Washington State Funding. The remainder of your property taxes go to King County ($2.19 per thousand, labelled County, Port, Library, EMS, and Flood on your tax statement), the City of Mercer Island ($0.73 per thousand, labelled City on your tax statement), and into the State School Fund ($2.51 per thousand). Washington State provides funding to all school districts across the state, and a portion of what Mercer Island taxpayers pay into the State School Fund comes back to the MISD.
Federal Government Grants and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services also contribute to the MISD. There's some smaller things that contribute to funding the MISD like room rentals, and those aren't shown.
Now you know where the money flows. There are restrictions about how the money can be used by MISD, and MISD is compliant and passes audit.
