School bond falls short

For the second time in 10 months, the Blaine school district’s proposed $70 million general obligation bond failed to reach the required 60 percent supermajority threshold at the ballot box, and the district will again look to find solutions to various aging infrastructure in the new year, district superintendent Christopher Granger said.

According to the most recent vote tallies from the November general election, by the Whatcom County auditor, 11,872 Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts residents voted on the bond measure, with 55.9 percent (6,584) voting to approve, and 44.1 percent (5,204) voting against the property tax.

If passed, the bond would have gone toward infrastructure improvements, mainly financing the construction of a new middle school, upgrades to multiple campus buildings, updates to Pipeline Fields athletic complex, among a host of other improvements. The bond asked property owners to pay a $0.76 per $1,000 in assessed value tax, which would have kept the tax rate flat for the foreseeable future as previous bonds were paid off.

“Although we did not reach the 60 percent supermajority required to pass the bond measure, the support shown for our schools reflects the incredible commitment of our community to our students and staff,” Granger wrote in a post-election statement.

Despite voter turnout in November being more than double the February special election, support for the bond increased by just over a percentage point, from 54.7 percent to 55.9 percent.

During a Supper with the Superintendent community meeting at Birch Bay Bible Community Church on November 18, Granger said the facilities committee and school board will discuss next steps for a bond introduction, but said the February 2025 special election would be too early.

Granger said the district couldn’t commit to an exact date for when a bond will be reintroduced to voters, but said the district could consider smaller, piece-meal, levy-funded capital projects to pay for individual infrastructure improvements, instead of another try at an omnibus, $70 million bond that hasn’t been able to vault the supermajority barrier.

If passed, the school district would have paid $107 million in debt servicing for the bond over a period of 20 years. Granger said that interest rates for bonds in the future would be even more expensive.

“Projected cost inflation for the next bond, even in a year, is significant,” Granger said. “So we’re just going to have to consider all those things and see what next steps are.”

The facilities committee, a 14-member group of staff, parents and community members, will meet again in the coming weeks to discuss next steps, and the next Blaine school board meeting will be held on Monday, November 25 at 7 p.m. in the district boardroom, 765 H Street.

“Thank you for standing with us, for believing in the potential of our students, and for sharing our dedication to making Blaine school district the best place in Washington to learn, work, and grow,” Granger wrote in a statement. “We look forward to continuing this journey with you and will keep you informed as we move forward together in determining the next steps for our students, staff, families, and community.”