The Seattle City Council’s school levy committee is meeting Thursday morning as it prepares legislation to put a proposed $1.3 billion renewal on the fall ballot.

$235 million earmarked for school safety investments in the plan has become one center of debate as the city weighs a possible return of Seattle Police officers assigned to campuses. CHS reported here on the proposal to add a “School Engagement Officer” on Garfield High School’s campus as soon as this fall.

Thursday, the Select Committee on Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy is hearing public comment on the levy and the public safety elements of the plan.

The first seven-year, $69.2 million levy, commonly known as the Families and Education Levy, was approved in November 1990 with support from 56% of the voters, the city says. A $619 million update was passed by voters in 2018. The proposal being lined up for consideration in November would grow the levy significantly with a planned $1.3 billion program over six years funded by a tax of $0.61 per $1,000 assessed value on property in the city.

Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office says the renewal would have a “$654 average annual impact to the owner of a median value home ($1.1M).”

The increased levy would boost Seattle’s childcare and early learning resources, the mayor says:

• Childcare Expansion: More than doubling access to affordable childcare slots to 1,400 a year and providing direct payments to support the retention of 5,000 childcare workers citywide.
• Nationally Acclaimed Preschool Program: Expanding the Seattle Preschool Program to 3,100 seats, improving access for families across the city.
• Youth Mental Health and Safety: Bolstering youth mental health services for Seattle students through new school-based health centers, expanded staffing, and telehealth support.
• Seattle Promise: Free tuition and expenses for up to two years at Seattle Colleges, available to all Seattle public school graduates.
• Apprenticeships and Workforce Development: Creating a new Path to Trades program to help graduates enter careers in skilled trades.

You can learn more about the proposal here.

The council committee is weighing several possible amendments (PDF) including increased spending for programs including Restorative Practices and the Fresh Bucks healthy food program. A proposed amendment from Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck would “clarify that the priorities and implementation principles intended to be advanced” by the levy “would promote equitable access to services for historically underserved communities, and ensure that safety investments in the levy prioritize addressing root causes of violence, nonpunitive approaches, and do not contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline.”

“The list of implementation principles is intended to provide high-level guidance to the FEPP Levy investments,” Rinck’s amendment proposal reads. “It does not bind the Council to funding any specific services.”

District 3 council representative Joy Hollingsworth has not sponsored any amendment proposals for the levy legislation.

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