Capital Facilities Levy to Appear on April 28 Ballot
The Lynden School Board has approved placing a Capital Facilities Levy on the April 28 ballot. Resolution #03-26 focuses on taking care of the schools we already own, reducing temporary solutions, and protecting students, staff, and visitors, all while being mindful of taxpayer impact.
Over $250 million in community-owned facilities are used daily by over 3500 students and 500 staff members. Over the past several years, community members and elected officials have worked together on long-term facilities planning to identify needs and set priorities while also looking to the future.
This capital levy is designed to:
- Extend the life of existing school buildings
- Improve safety across district facilities
- Reduce reliance on portable classrooms and leased space
- Avoid significantly larger and more disruptive costs later
If approved by voters, the levy would collect a total of $25.5 million from 2027 through 2030 and expire at the end of that four-year period. The estimated tax rate increase is $1.09 per $1000 of total assessed value. The owner of a $600,000 home would have a $54.50 monthly increase in property tax in 2027.
The majority of the levy focuses on elementary schools, Lynden Academy, and essential safety and maintenance improvements.
Bernice Vossbeck Elementary School – Expansion and Longevity ($7.5 million)
This project upgrades and expands Bernice Vossbeck Elementary to ensure the facility can serve students well into the future. Work includes construction of permanent classroom space for approximately 120 additional students, roof replacement, parking expansion, and targeted classroom and building system upgrades. These improvements allow the district to continue using the existing school efficiently and reduce the need for more costly new school construction to serve the extensive growth experienced in the east part of Lynden.
Isom Elementary School – Expansion and Longevity ($6.8 million)
This project upgrades and expands Isom Elementary to extend the life of the facility for decades to come. Improvements include approximately 120 additional permanent student spaces and modernization of critical building systems such as heating and ventilation. The expansion increases overall capacity for all grade levels and better aligns learning spaces in a school originally designed for grades 3–5. Addressing capacity and aging infrastructure now helps reduce reliance on portable classrooms and allows the school to remain viable well beyond 2060.
Lynden Academy – Facility Acquisition and Renovation ($5.5 million)
The levy includes funding to purchase and renovate a permanent facility for Lynden Academy, the district’s parent partnership program serving more than 430 students and continuing to grow. The program is currently housed in a leased former church, with lease and utility costs nearing $20,000 per month and scheduled to increase. The building was not originally designed for daily instructional use. Establishing a district-owned facility allows the district to convert ongoing lease costs into a long-term public asset and improve learning conditions for students and families.
Facility Safety, Maintenance, and Support Improvements (approximately $4.5 million combined)
This portion of the levy addresses essential safety, maintenance, and support needs across district facilities. Projects include security camera and access control upgrades, perimeter fencing, emergency communication systems, transportation garage improvements, targeted upgrades at Lynden High School, and renovations to Judson Hall and the Old Gym to maintain safe school and community use. These are standard capital investments focused on safety, accessibility, and preserving existing facilities.
Instructional Technology Replacement ($1.6 million over four years)
The levy also supports a planned replacement cycle for student laptops and classroom instructional technology. Spreading these costs over multiple years helps avoid large one-time expenditures and ensures technology remains reliable, secure, and available for daily instruction.
A capital levy is a time-limited funding tool used to address targeted facility needs and major maintenance. A capital bond is generally used for large construction projects and requires a higher level of voter approval.
In recent years, voters were asked three times to consider bonds to replace Lynden High School. Those measures did not reach the required approval threshold. While high school replacement remains a long-term consideration, the Board determined that addressing other pressing facility needs could not wait.
The district is taking a step-by-step approach to facilities planning:
- 2026: Capital Facilities Levy
- 2028: Renewal of the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy
- 2030: Potential consideration of a future capital bond
Each measure is separate and subject to voter approval. Additional details about the projects included in the 2026 Capital Facilities Levy will be released throughout March. The final decision on the April 28 measure rests with the voters of Lynden.
