Olympia School District board seeks levy for technology infrastructure

The Olympia School District Board of Directors discussed a resolution that would authorize the district to collect a new Technology, Safety, and Facility Improvement Levy to support computer technology and training from 2026-27 to 2030-31. 

Executive Director of Business & Finance Kate Davis and Chief Informational Officer Marc Elliott discussed the levy with the board members at a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9. 

The money raised by the levy would be used for developing, acquiring and installing computer technology, related technology infrastructure, training, school and systems safety improvements, and facility improvements. 

The tax rate would be $0.96 for 2027-29 and $0.97 for 2030-31 per $1,000 of assessed property value. 

“As we were doing this, we estimated that our assessed property values would grow by 5.83%, and so that was based on about a 20-year average on how those property values had been growing,” Davis said. 

The previous technology and safety levy for school years 2022-23 through 2026-27 was $52,427,000, with more than 90% of the money going toward maintenance expenditures. 

Cost planning assumes four years of inflationary growth that may vary based on the type of activity, or goods and services. 

“When it goes on the ballot … what voters will be approving is the proposed levy amount. They are not approving the tax rate. We have published what we estimate the tax rate to be, but the collection is the proposed levy, not the tax rate,” Davis said. 

The district plans on filing the resolution with the county on Dec. 12. Voters would vote on the resolution in the Feb. 10, 2026, Special Election.

Additional costs 

Davis stated technology-related costs in the district have increased, something that was attributed to inflation. 

If costs rise faster than inflation, the district needs to have sufficient funds available to deliver on planned projects. 

“You will see a couple of different categories throughout the proposal here that we would like to share with you, which include instructional technology and operational technology,” Elliot said. 

The district would need $30,159,921 for operational technology items, such as computer hardware, network infrastructure and safety systems. 

Another $6,300,000 would be needed for facility improvements, which is allotted for expenditures, such as modernizing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. 

Technology systems, and support to be used in software, instructional and operational support staff, would require another $27,150,179. 

A 20-member planning committee, composed of operations staff, teachers, librarians, principals, cabinet members, a board member and a student representative helped shape the Technology, Safety, and Facility Improvement Levy.