Mercer Island approves a facilities bond measure for the February 2027 ballot

What happened

The school board approved a bond measure for voters to decide in February 2027, funding accessibility improvements at Mercer Island High School and other district facilities. Bond proceeds would also cover related project costs; the measure does not authorize borrowing unless voters approve it.

Why it matters to families

The proposal would let the district borrow for school-facility improvements and repay the debt through property taxes if voters approve it. The board's financial presentation estimated a 2027 tax rate of about $1.54 per $1,000 of assessed value, but that projection also reflected the voter-approved education levy and was not a bond-only estimate.

The evidence

At its Oct. 22 meeting, the board approved Resolution 760, authorizing general-obligation bonds, after discussing that financing would occur only after the election was certified and only if the measure passed. The Oct. 8 presentation described the bond as focused on needed accessibility improvements at Mercer Island High School and other district facilities; its projected tax rate included other factors and was subject to change.

The source