Peninsula School Voters To Decide $50 Million Capital Projects Levy In November

Voters in the Peninsula School District will decide the fate of a four-year, $50 million capital projects levy in the Nov. 5 election.

If passed, the four-year measure would pay for a new elementary school in Gig Harbor North and replacing Artondale Elementary.

Other improvements include upgrading the district's technological infrastructure, school safety and possibly replacing turf fields at Peninsula and Gig Harbor Highs, as well as Harbor Ridge Middle School.

The levy would generate $12.5 million a year over four years, and it would add about $1.40 per $1,000 assessed value to the tax rate.

Superintendent Chuck Cuzzetto told Patch that, currently, the Peninsula School District enjoys the lowest tax rate of any district in Pierce County at $2.35 per $1,000 assessed value.

Even if the measure passes, Peninsula would still be the lowest. Fife School District taxpayers pay the second-lowest rate at $4.14 per $1,000 assessed value.

But the local school district is only two years removed from watching a $78 million measure narrowly fail in 2011. This time around, district leaders are choosing to ask voters for less money. Cuzzetto added that the economy has somewhat improved over the last two years.

"It's listening to what the voters said during tough economic times," he said when asked about why might the November measure have a better chance at passing. "It's four years, pay-as-you-go, no debt service."

While enrollment numbers haven't ballooned district-wide, schools such as Purdy Elementary are growing because of new residential and multi-family construction in Gig Harbor North.

"All of a sudden, we're seeing a lot of pressure in Gig Harbor North," he said.

We ask you, Gig Harbor Patch users, what are your thoughts on the proposed levy increase from the Peninsula School District? Does it have a better chance at passing than the 2011 measure? Tell us in the comments.