Bonds are for building! A bond provides funding for capital projects such as purchasing property for schools, constructing new schools, or modernizing existing schools. Bonds are sold to investors who are repaid with interest over time from property tax collections, generally between 10-25 years. 

We are running a bond in February 2023 as a part of our Long-Term Facilities Management Plan, which addresses ways to alleviate overcrowding in our schools and improve the learning environment for students in our district. 

Our comprehensive high schools are over capacity.

• Chiawana was built for 2,348 students, but during the 21-22   school year Chiawana served 3,126 students at its peak in October of 2021.
• Pasco High School was built to serve 1,808 students and last year served 2,448 students at its peak in October of 2021.
• The district estimates that over 1,300 students between both schools will be served in portable classrooms for the 22-23 school year.

The City of Pasco projects its population will grow by 50,000 within the next 20 years, leading to continued enrollment growth for Pasco schools. The 2023 bond preliminary scope includes adding a new third comprehensive high school and a small innovative high school which would create room for 2,600 students, alleviating overcrowding in current high schools and allowing room for enrollment growth. 

The bond also includes adding a softball field at Pasco High School, enhancing Career & Technical Education (CTE) equipment at Chiawana and Pasco High Schools and purchasing land for future growth.  

Bonds require a super majority to pass, which is 60% plus one vote of the total votes cast. For a bond to pass, the election must also be validated, meaning voter turnout must be equal to 40% of the voters who cast ballots in the last general election. 

The taxpayer portion of the overall bond cost is $195.5 million, with an estimated tax rate of $0.46* per $1,000 of assessed property value.  

Below are property tax scenarios showing the difference of $0.46 from the current tax rate of $1.85 in 2022 and an estimated tax rate of $2.31 in 2024.

* bond rates may change due to fluctuations in lending market interest rates and changes in annual assessed property values.

Yes! Washington State law provides two tax benefit programs for senior citizens and individuals who are disabled: property tax exemptions and property tax deferrals. For more information on qualifications, please contact your local county assessor’s office. 

You can register to vote by visiting the VoteWA website. 

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters on January 24, 2023 and the deadline to vote is February 14, 2023.