City of Seattle Seattle City Council

NEWS ADVISORY
SUBJECT:   Council Committee Passes Families and Education Levy Package
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    7/9/2004  1:20:00 PM	FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tatsuo Nakata 206-684-8806

COUNCIL COMMITTEE PASSES FAMILIES AND EDUCATION LEVY PACKAGE
Final Council vote expected Monday, July 12

SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council Committee of the Whole unanimously passed the Families and Education Levy renewal package, setting up a final vote before full Council on Monday, July 12. This package provides over $116 million for children and youth programs through a 7-year property tax levy.

The Council of the Whole Committee deliberated the size of the levy, during several meetings. The debate centered on continuation of middle school programs and current levels of family support workers and nurses. Councilmembers emerged from the final discussion pleased at the package, pledging to work hard with the Mayor, schools, parents, and families to pass the levy in September.

“Renewal of this levy is critical to supporting our children as they attend our public schools,” according to Councilmember David Della, chair of the Council’s Committee of the Whole on the Family and Education Levy. “What Council has done is ensure that we cover health, family support, counseling, before and after school activities, and even kids who have dropped out.”

“This is a levy package that the public can enthusiastically support" said Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck, who has been involved with the Families and Education Levy for the past four years. "It is a results-oriented levy that covers Seattle's children and youth all the way from birth to age eighteen with programs that enhance such areas as quality childcare, family involvement, and support for middle school students."

The size of the levy was an early sticking point for the Council. Councilmember Richard McIver, current budget chair, made an effort to keep the levy amount lower than $116 million. Councilmembers were concerned about providing a constant source of funding for current programs while being sensitive to having a levy that voters might reject. “I enthusiastically support everything in the package we adopted today,” according to Councilmember Richard Conlin. “ I want to remind the Council that we placed $3 million worth of school support programs onto the upcoming city budget and I would hope we give every consideration to those programs.”

The Families and Education Levy was originally passed by voters in 1990 and again in 1997. It is aimed at promoting academic achievement, strengthening families, and enhancing school readiness among children and youth ages birth to 18. The levy package that will go before the full Council includes the following allocations:

· $3,003,000 Preschool w/1/2 day childcare for 4 yr olds (350 children)

· $125,000 for Parent Child home visits.

· $250,000 for supporting childcare quality in early learning networks (ages 0-3)

· $213,000 for career wage ladder program

· $74,000 for preschool/ kindergarten transition.

· ($80,000) Parent child home visits reduced

· 8% program management costs

· $2,330,247 for 50 FTE family support workers, includes inflation adjustment and 7% program management.

·$500,000 - $250,000 to school-based Family Partnership program and $250,000 to community-based organizations. 10% program management.

· Reduce $87,000 for program management costs. Program management costs to be absorbed within the $1 million annual amount plus inflation.

· $2,520,000 Partnership for Student Success (PSS).

· $330,000 for after school activities.

· $250,000 for program management (8%)

· $1,195,700 for case management (program management at 8%)

· $2,605,000 for school-based health clinics.

· $699,300 for 11 FTE school nurses.

· $344,600 program management (10%)

· $200,000

· $513,900 for 3.5 years

· $500,000

· 8% program management

The total cost of the levy is $116,788,000 with a total annual cost of $16,684,000. Average cost of the levy per household per year is $65.

The City Council will meet in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue (entrance on Fifth Avenue) on Monday, July 12 at 2 p.m. The meeting will be cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21 and Web cast live at Council Live.

City Council

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