Letter to the editor:

A letter that appeared in the Highline Times on October 7 may have caused some confusion about how the annexation of North Highline might impact taxpayers in Highline School District. I would like to offer some clarification.

Annexation to either Burien or Seattle will not affect school district boundaries, school taxes, or school district governance.

Schools are funded primarily by the state, and secondarily by a portion of local property taxes (through voter-approved levies and bonds). It doesn’t matter what city you live in; the schools’ portion of your property tax flows to the school district in which you live.

All Highline residents pay the same school tax rate. Residents of any given area of the district do not “subsidize” schools in another area of the district.

The school district does not anticipate “the need to continually increase taxes” due to the annexation of North Highline to either Burien or Seattle, as suggested in the October 7 letter. In fact, the amount school districts can raise through levies is capped by state law.

All residents of Highline School District will continue to have a voice in school district decisions through the school board elected by voters throughout the district.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify these points.

Catherine Carbone Rogers
Director, Communication and Community Relations
Highline Public Schools