There is nothing like making a bad situation worse. The Bethel School District has one of the highest growth rates in the County. Because of the way state policy works, a new school cannot be built until a district has an entire population of students unhoused in a school building. Because of that policy, the County has impact fees, paid by developers that help defray the fact that the first two years a new house exists, it does not yet pay taxes on the increased value. But the children from these new developed units must have a desk, a teacher and classroom space.

This situation leaves the Bethel District chronically out of classroom space for students and repeatedly asking voters to approve bonds to build new schools. High growth is challenging for a school district and Bethel has more than its share.

The Superintendent of the District, Tom Seigel, has released a letter to the County Executive and Council, asking them to correct the policy that is allowing these new high-rise apartments with affordable units to avoid paying impact fees. This is an issue that will affect taxpayers all over the district. After reading his letter, decide for yourself if you wish to support what he is suggesting.

from:		THOMAS SEIGEL <tseigel@bethelsd.org>
to:		Ryan Mello <Ryan.Mello@piercecountywa.gov>, Marty Campbell <Marty.Campbell@piercecountywa.gov>, Robyn Denson <Robyn.Denson@piercecountywa.gov>, Jani Hitchen <Jani.Hitchen@piercecountywa.gov>, Paul Herrera <Paul.Herrera@piercecountywa.gov>, Amy Cruver <amy.cruver@piercecountywa.gov>, Dave Morrell <Dave.Morell@piercecountywa.gov> executive@piercecountywa.gov

Dear County Council Members and County Executive,
After communications with a County Council member I reviewed the County’s current multi-family housing impact fee formula and confirmed Bethel School District did not receive any funds last year.  I was shocked when I confirmed that. The Bethel School District did not receive Impact Fee funding for multi-family housing units being built in this area because of the way the formula is skewed.

Considering Pierce County changed the zoning within Bethel School District with the new “neighborhood corridor” zoning, which will result in an influx of multi-family housing (51,000 new residents in the next 17 years) there is an urgent need to change this flawed funding formula. (If the current funding formula was allowed to proceed to its logical conclusion, the Bethel School District would pay the County $2200 for each new student generated from these multi-family housing units!)

It is clear that County Council action is required to fix this broken funding mechanism. For calculation purposes, the cheapest option available for “housing” new students generated by multi-family housing is to utilize portable double classroom buildings with water (for restroom and drinking water).  The total cost of such a portable classroom varies depending upon site requirements but are often nearly $500,000.

The number of students in these classrooms depends upon state class size requirements and the grade level but, in general, 25 to 30 students per classroom. Therefore, the per student cost to construct a portable classroom is approximately $8333 per student.  And using portable classrooms is the cheapest option by far.

Immediate action is needed to provide adequate Impact Fee funding for Multi-Family Housing units to purchase portable classrooms to handle the influx of new students arriving in Bethel School District.  (Please note, the ground breaking ceremony for the new 254 unit low income housing complex on Mountain Highway, attended by several of you, will be open for occupancy in July and there will be school age children). 

Action is needed now to fund, via recalculated Impact Fees, the needed student housing caused by the “Neighbor Corridor” designation’s impact. 

To receive no funding from Impact Fees for Multi-Family housing is unacceptable.

Please advise me as to the action you intend to take.

Yours,

Tom Seigel

Tom Seigel Superintendent

(253) 800-2011tseigel@bethelsd.orgwww.bethelsd.org516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387-8399