Policy Council Recap: BSD Levy Briefing and Advocacy Agendas Approved

At its November 12 meeting, the Chamber’s Policy Council hosted leaders from the Bellevue School District (BSD) for a briefing on two levy renewals slated for the February 10, 2026 special election. Councilmembers reviewed district finances and enrollment trends, then approved the Chamber’s federal agenda ahead of the December 2–5 D.C. Fly-In and adopted the East King Chambers Coalition’s state legislative priorities.

Bellevue Schools: Performance and Fiscal Outlook

BSD reported that student outcomes remain strong while the district continues to stabilize its finances under state “binding conditions.” The district currently serves 19,345 students and employs 2,727 staff. Recent performance data show an 86% AP exam pass rate and 80–83% aggregate proficiency in core subjects across grade levels, and nearly 600 students have earned the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy—an indicator of both academic rigor and global readiness.

“What I would humbly submit to you with complete confidence,” said BSD’s John Harrison, “is that in the Bellevue School District, our 19,345 students are thriving for the most part.”

Harrison noted that the district’s financial outlook has strengthened over the past six months as leaders have focused on rebuilding fund balance and meeting requirements from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) ahead of schedule. Through tight budgeting and spending discipline, BSD is working to restore long-term fiscal stability while maintaining the programs and services families expect.

Levy Renewals on the February Ballot

BSD previewed two levy renewals that will appear on the February 10, 2026 special election ballot. These measures are renewals—not new taxes—and provide local funding that supplements the state’s basic education allocation.

Proposition 1, the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy, supports day-to-day operations and staffing not fully funded by the state. This includes a seven-period day at secondary schools; smaller class sizes; counselors and mental health supports; advanced learning; world languages; music and arts; athletics; and special education services, along with transportation costs not covered by state formulas.

Proposition 2, the Technology & Capital Projects levy, funds student devices; classroom technology and related professional development; cybersecurity; safety and security upgrades; energy efficiency projects; and major building maintenance such as roofing, carpeting, HVAC, and the upkeep of athletic facilities used widely by the community.

“In the Bellevue School District, about 24% of our total budget is dependent upon the levies that the taxpayers support,” Harrison emphasized.

The proposed tax rates are $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value for the EP&O levy and $0.54 per $1,000 for the Technology & Capital levy. For a home assessed at $1 million, the combined annual cost is estimated at roughly $1,290. Both measures require a simple majority (50%) to pass; BSD’s last levy renewal was approved by voters in the mid-to-upper 60% range. BSD also shared a regional comparison showing Bellevue’s combined local school tax rate near $1.90 per $1,000 of assessed value—substantially lower than some neighboring districts, including Auburn at approximately $4.48.

What the Levies Enable: Technology, Security, and Energy Efficiency

BSD underscored that local levies are critical to sustaining student access to technology, maintaining safe and modern facilities, and investing in energy efficiency.

Every student in BSD has access to a device, and classrooms are equipped with up-to-date technology backed by professional development for educators. Levy funds also support cybersecurity investments that protect student and district data. On the capital side, levy dollars are used for safety and security improvements, as well as upgrades tied to clean building standards and carbon reduction goals.

The district highlighted examples such as geothermal heating at Eastgate Elementary and a carbon-neutral school at Cuesta as indicators of its commitment to long-term sustainability. Turf fields at several elementary schools also expand access to youth sports and community activities outside the traditional school day, underscoring the broader community benefit of levy-funded improvements.

Community Process and Next Steps

The Bellevue School District will continue informational outreach in the coming months. BSD reported that enrollment has stabilized and improved this year, with higher kindergarten numbers and inbound transfers helping bolster utilization.

City partners outlined the review timeline ahead of the February election. The Bellevue School District will brief the Bellevue City Council on January 6, offering an opportunity for council members to receive information, engage with district leaders, and consider whether to take a formal position on the measures.

Federal Agenda Approved; D.C. Fly-In Set for Dec. 2–5

The Policy Council also approved the Chamber’s federal agenda in preparation for the December 2–5 D.C. Fly-In—now in its fourth year. The agenda focuses on housing finance flexibility, transportation formula funding, and support for key safety net programs.

A central housing priority is aligning federal dollars with local growth areas and providing tools that make projects feasible amid rising costs and market uncertainty. As Chamber staff put it, the goal is “tying these dollars, federal dollars, to housing growth areas and providing flexible financing tools to make projects feasible amid rising costs and uncertainty.”

Transportation priorities build on Bellevue’s national recognition for Vision Zero and multimodal safety efforts, as well as continued pursuit of federal programs such as Safe Streets for All. The Council also discussed emerging opportunities around AI-enabled signal coordination and other technology-forward approaches to congestion management and safety.

Coalition State Priorities: Housing, Energy, Safety, and Mobility

Finally, the Council adopted the East King Chambers Coalition’s state agendas, which collectively emphasize housing supply, economic competitiveness, reliable energy, public safety, and mobility.

On economic and regulatory policy, the Coalition’s priorities include opposing new and increased taxes; supporting AI adoption and workforce upskilling; advancing manufacturing; aligning impact fees with timely project delivery; encouraging transit-oriented development; allowing more flexible ground-floor standards; opposing rent control expansion; and streamlining permitting and siting processes to reduce delays and uncertainty for employers and housing providers.

Energy policy emphasizes technology-neutral pathways to decarbonization and grid modernization, while closely monitoring the impacts of the state’s Climate Commitment Act. As the agenda notes, “We urge legislators to take a neutral approach on technology and pursue opportunities in all areas of renewable energy, including, but not limited to hydropower, nuclear energy, hydrogen and renewable natural gas.”

Public safety priorities include increased investment in behavioral health services; recruitment and retention strategies for law enforcement; addressing juvenile crime and misdemeanor theft; and higher penalties for crimes against marijuana dispensaries. Transportation priorities call for continued support of Bellevue’s Grand Connection, investment in preservation and maintenance of existing infrastructure, and exploration of autonomous vehicle-ready infrastructure.

Conclusion

Bellevue’s business community heard a clear case for renewing BSD’s levies to sustain high-quality programs, maintain safe and efficient facilities, and support ongoing fiscal stabilization—at tax rates that remain competitive regionally. With both its federal and state agendas now adopted, the Chamber is well-positioned to advocate for flexible housing finance, safer streets, technology-forward transportation, reliable and affordable energy, and the public safety resources needed to support a growing regional economy.

Join us at upcoming events, including the January 6 legislative kickoff and our January 14 Policy Council meeting, and subscribe to our newsletter for continued policy updates.