Building for Learning 2026 Questions & Answers

Bonds fund major construction projects such as rebuilds and new school buildings. The bond on the November 3 ballot address three major construction projects:

• Build middle school #5
• Replace Cascade Middle School (59 years old)
• Replace Alpac Elementary School (54 years old)

Bonds are similar to a mortgage and are financed for typically 20 years. Levies are shorter term, typically 2 to 6 years and funding is allotted and used annually.

Yes. In November of 2024 and November of 2025, the ASD Board of Directors asked the community to consider the schools on this bond. 55% approved in 2024 and 54% approved in 2025. Washington State requires a supermajority of 60% approval to pass a bond. Because the majority of the community support the bond, and the needs are still there, the Board is asking the community to consider it again.

Yes, the ASD community supported a 6-year Safety, Security, Facility Improvements & Technology Replacement levy in November of 2025. Work on the projects approved in that levy will begin in summer of 2026.

An easy way to remember the difference between a bond and a levy is bonds are for building and levies are for learning.

Middle schools will continue to exceed capacity. The ASD currently uses 43 portables at the four middle schools housing more than 1,100 students. For the 26-27 school year, there will be 45 portables across the four existing middle schools. The district will continue to maintain inefficient, outdated schools (Alpac and Cascade) diverting resources from other uses.

No. The State of Washington offers very limited funds to build schools. The funding source for school in Washington is that local communities vote to build in their communities. Local districts do not receive any state money without a bond, and then the state only provides a portion of the cost of construction.

Schools in Washington receive funding for "basic education" through the state's prototypical funding model, which is based on the Legislature's assumptions about the resources needed for basic education. However, this state funding may not always cover the full costs of operating and maintaining school districts.

To address these gaps, districts often rely on voter-approved bonds and levies.

Capital levies provide funding for short-term critical needs like modern technology, enhanced building security and renovation projects, significantly impacting the quality of education. Levies can be approved for up to six years, offering reliable funding for these projects. The ASD passed a Capital Levy in November of 2025 to support critical maintenance needs and technology.

Bonds fund long-term investments like new school construction and major infrastructure improvements. Together, bond support physical growth, while levies sustain educational operations, helping schools ensure students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Many school districts can qualify for additional financial assistance from the state of Washington to help build or modernize facilities. The state determines the amount of square footage each student needs (the amounts are different for elementary, middle and high schools) and assigns a dollar amount per square foot based on current average construction cost estimates.

Both new construction and remodeling projects an be eligible for state assistance. While these matching funds are helpful for bond projects, only a limited percentage of actual costs are typically covered using this formula, leaving the rest of the cost to the school district and the local community (via approval of a bond or capital levy).

If this bond passes, the estimate is we would receive $36 million in state matching funds towards the projects.

More than 40 ASD community members, parents and staff served on a 2023 citizens' committee to determine facility needs. The committee examined the district's facilities, evaluated the need for new facilities and made recommendations to accommodate district facility needs for the next 10 years. After meeting for 12 weeks, the committee presented its highest priority projects to the board. These three schools were the highest priority of the citizens group. 

Yes. Here are a few examples of the ASD's fiscal stewardship of taxpayer money. 

Bond Refinancing
Similar to refinancing a home mortgage, when interest rates are favorable, the district refinances bonds. In May 2026, the district refinanced bonds sold in 2017 resulting in savings for district taxpayers of approximately $4 million over the remaining life of the bonds. Since 2013, the district has refinanced bonds six times, resulting in saving to district taxpayers of approximately $13.9 million.

Moody's Credit Rating
Moody's affirmed the district's Aa2 bond rating due to our consistently sound fiscal practices. This is essentially the same as a credit rating, and it allows us to borrow money at lower interest rates when we issue bonds to save our taxpayers money. There are only three districts in the state with a higher rating, and we are one of only eight district with this high rating.

2016 Building for Learning Bond
The ASD community approved a bond package in 2016 to address eight schools. The district built Bowman Creek Elementary and Willow Crest Elementary. The district razed and replaced Olympic Middle School, Chinook Elementary, Dick Scobee Elementary, Lea Hill Elementary, Pioneer Elementary and Terminal Park Elementary. All projects came in on-time, on-budget and are high-quality schools that will last for generations.

If the bond passes, there will be an attendance area committee to review and revise boundaries to help alleviate the overcrowding at all four middle schools and to help balance enrollment at the elementary level.

The estimated tax rate if this bond passes is $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The average home in Auburn School District is about $600,000. Here's the formula for calculating the estimated tax for this bond using the average home value.

EXAMPLE:
Home value: $600,000
$600,000 divided by $1,000 = 600
600 X $1.10 = 660
$660 divided by 12 months = $55 per month

For information specific to your property, use this tax estimation tool from King County.

Yes. Washington State law provides two tax benefit programs for seniors citizens and persons with disabilities. They include property tax exemptions and property tax deferrals. With exemptions, you pay less taxes or none at all. With deferrals, you are able to pay your taxes at a later date.

We encourage you or those you know to take advantage of this meaningful tax relief for citizens living on fixed incomes. More information is available through the King County Assessors office and the Pierce County Assessors office.

The district works with a variety of industry experts in calculating the costs of building projects.

The individual project estimations are:

• Middle School #5: $184 million
• Cascade Middle School: $189 million
• Alpac Elementary School: $118 million

These costs include site preparation, permitting, required traffic improvements, construction costs and much more. There are inflationary costs included in each of the projections.

Middle School #5 and Cascade Middle School would open in the fall of 2028. The timeline for completion of the two middle schools was moved up to address the critical overcrowding and to keep costs down. Alpac Elementary would open in the fall of 2029.

The district owns property on I Street NE and 40th Street NE. The existing lot for Cascade is too small to support a modern middle school. Moving it approximately one mile from it's existing location will provide enough space for modern athletic fields, sufficient parking for staff and the community and allow for modern learning spaces.

The ASD will keep the existing Cascade Middle School. Per Washington State law, the building cannot be used as a K-12 school in the future. It will serve as the interim school site during the 28-29 school year when Alpac is being rebuilt. After the 2029 school year, it could be used as meeting spaces, training spaces or a preschool. Those decisions have not been made yet.

40% of the people who voted in November of 2025 must vote to validate the bond election. For the 2026 election, this means 7,038 people must vote on the measure. 60% of the total votes would need to vote yes to pass the bond.

Email 2026election@auburn.wednet.edu or call Associate Superintendent of Business & Operations, Cindi Blansfield at (253) 931-4930.