2023 Capital Levy Q&A

2023 Capital Levy Q & A

What would this capital levy pay for?

Rubberized tracks help athletes reduce the risk of falls and injuries. And they are more durable and require less maintenance than other types of tracks, which can save time and money in the long run. Toledo School District is the only district in Lewis County without a competitive track facility and one of only nine in the state. This capital levy would pay for:

  • Rubberized track and field to increase athlete safety and allow Toledo to host home track meets

  • Restrooms and concession stand to improve community experience

  • Enclosed grandstand to allow for equipment storage and additional spectator protection from adverse weather conditions

Why are Toledo taxpayers being asked to fund this project? 

Our facilities are the responsibility of our community. Athletic programs receive zero basic education dollars from the state. When it comes to sports, we get what our community puts into it.

Could this project be funded by grants?

It’s possible we may be able to offset the cost of this project with grant funding. However, most grants expect some level of matching from the local community asking for the money. Passing the capital levy shows potential grant funders that our community is invested in this project.

Why is this so expensive?

Public works projects must take into account:

  • Soft costs: Including contractor mark up, sales tax, permitting, archeological, geological and engineering fees, these are costs of construction that are not directly part of the actual construction. They are typically about 40% of the cost of construction.

  • Prevailing wage: All capital projects undertaken by TSD must pay the prevailing wages for construction work as set for the Seattle area. 

  • Contingency: This is a budgeted item to address unforeseen circumstances encountered during construction. Typically 5% to 10% of the total cost of the project.

Can we do it ourselves with volunteers?

Washington state law (RCW 39.04) prevents us from taking on a public works project of this size with volunteers.

Why not put the concession stand under the grandstands?

Even if we follow every safety protocol, concession stands present a potential fire hazard. Building under the grandstands would require a full fire sprinkler system because any fire that occurred would be directly underneath spectators. This would significantly increase the cost of the project and create a potentially life-threating situation that isn’t necessary.

Didn’t we already pay to complete the stadium?

Voters passed a bond in 2018 to build a new high school. At the time, our school board passed a resolution not to use the funds for anything but the principal and interest for the bond. The stadium project was not a part of the bond proposals and has never received any funding from the bond.

Could we just use the restrooms and concession stand at the baseball field?

The baseball restrooms are a long walk from the grandstands. They are open at football games and serve the visiting team’s fans and anyone who wishes to make the walk. We provide portable toilets for home team fans because of complaints about the inconvenience of the baseball field toilets. 

The same is true for the baseball concession stand. When we have attempted to sell concessions there, fans are not willing to walk that far to make a purchase.

My property values just increased dramatically — how will this affect me?

School levies and bonds have a fixed total amount. For example, voters passed a $3.45 million levy in 2021. That vote authorized the district to collect $1.1 million in 2022, $1.15 million in 2023 and $1.2 million in 2024.  A home that cost $400,000 in 2022 was assessed$1.38 per $1,000 of value. 

However, as that home value increased over time, the school levy rate decreased. The total amount the district can collect  remains the same: It does not increase as property value increases.

Aren’t we already paying for the high school construction bond?

Toledo School District finds itself with an unusual opportunity. Because of strategic financial planning, the district saved $1.75 million on constructing our new high school. No one will pay a tax on the bond from 2023 until 2028.

We could take advantage of this rare “tax holiday” and use the savings to reduce the impact of the expense on the community. Bond payments do not begin again until 2028, after this capital levy ends.

When will the project be completed?

If voters approve the capital levy, we expect to break ground in April 2023. We are setting an aggressive schedule to complete the project in time for football in the fall of 2023.

 

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