LACEY – Local voters have the opportunity to head to the polls on March 11 to decide on three school funding questions that could impact local property taxes and the state of school infrastructure for years to come. The school district argues that the projects are necessary to address aging facilities. Opponents, including the group Lacey Citizens for Responsible Government, contend that the district has neglected maintenance and is seeking an excessive financial commitment from taxpayers.
What’s on the Ballot?
According to a news release submitted by the school district, voters will consider three questions, with the first being a prerequisite for the others:
Question 1: Proposes borrowing $30 million for roof replacements at all six schools and HVAC upgrades at the High School and Middle School. The state has committed $12 million toward these projects, ensuring no tax increase for residents.
Question 2: Would borrow $38 million to make additional HVAC improvements districtwide, as well as lighting, plumbing, and electrical upgrades. The state has pledged $15.2 million, but the remaining costs would raise property taxes by approximately $12 per month.
Question 3: Seeks $24.5 million for facility renovations, including gym locker rooms, a synthetic turf field, stormwater drainage improvements, and upgrades to outdoor basketball courts and restrooms. The state has committed $8.6 million, with the remainder adding about $8 per month to tax bills.
School officials stress that Question 1 must be approved for Questions 2 and 3 to take effect. The estimated tax impacts are based on the average assessed home values in the community, listed as $287,011.
School District’s Perspective
School officials have held several informational presentations to explain the referendum, arguing that the projects are critical to maintaining safe, functional, and efficient facilities.
“We do our best to maintain our school buildings, but many systems and structures have reached the end of their useful life and need replacement,” said Acting Superintendent William W. Zylinski. “These updates can’t be ignored because some of the older equipment requires costly repairs just to get by. Using state aid to offset a portion of the project costs helps reduce the amount to be repaid by the taxpayers.”
A promotional video from the district highlights deteriorating roofing resulting in leaks, outdated HVAC systems, and aging infrastructure as reasons why funding is needed. High School Principal Jason King emphasized that the projects would ensure safer and more efficient learning environments.
“The new roofing systems come with a 30-year warranty, ensuring long-term protection for our buildings,” King said. “Question 2 will allow us to modernize heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for better reliability and efficiency. Question 3 would bring long-overdue upgrades to student facilities, such as locker rooms, restrooms, and athletic fields.”
Lacey Schools have been hit hard with a reduction in state aid based on a formula known as S-2 funding. They saw a reduction of over $13.7 million over a seven-year period, with $3.2 million lost just last year. The district took advantage of a one-time opportunity to raise taxes above the two percent threshold last year and took the maximum allowable increase of 9.9 percent.
State aid numbers for 2025-2026 paint a more favorable picture for the district. Recent reports after the state budget was announced call for a 6 percent increase with $7,708,394 allocated to grades K-12. The preschool program will receive $4,758,232.
In defense of the prior year’s budget, then-Superintendent of Schools Dr. Vanessa R. Periera maintained that the district did not have a spending problem – but experienced difficulties because the reduction in state aid created a revenue issue.
The Opposition’s Voice
Critics, including R.A. Bidnick of Lacey Citizens for Responsible Government, see things differently and have hosted two informational sessions to address their opposition. They argue that the district has mismanaged funds and is now seeking taxpayer assistance to fix problems that could have been avoided.
“The Senate Bill that changed our schools’ state funding was passed over seven years ago,” said Bidnick. “Yet, the school board did nothing to plan for the cuts and just kept kicking the can down the road. Now, because of their terrible decision making and incompetencies, the school facilities have run into disrepair.”
Regina Discenza, who served on the school board for two terms, spoke at the township’s meeting last week to offer insight from her perspective. She said that as a member of the board she was presented with a 68 page document representing the school budget, with little room for manipulation.
“Most people could see in black and white how little money was spent on maintenance and upkeep over the past ten years,” said Discenza. “On their six school buildings and the district office building. For the past ten years, long term maintenance was deferred unless something was about to blow up.”
To make her point, Discenza said that while she was in office, the high school boilers had not been replaced for forty years. She also claimed that they had not received long-term maintenance in a timely manner.
Both Bidnick and Discenza have pointed to decreased enrollment in the district as a reason costs should be lowered. They also claim that contract negotiations with school personnel have contributed to the district’s money problems.
Bidnick also raised concerns about past financial mismanagement, stating that solar panels that are still costing taxpayers will need to be removed to replace the roof. He also criticized the proposal to eliminate the bond for the roof replacement and instead use that funding for Question 1. He compared this strategy to paying off a credit card only to immediately take on a new 20-year loan.
“They want to take those solar panels off that still have life on them,” he said. “And they’re going to throw them out and the bond for them is not payable until 2029. So, we’re not even going to get the lifespan of the solar panels.”
Meanwhile, the reality is that the district is experiencing leaking roofs and other concerns to its infrastructure. Bidnick said he spoke with Sharon Ormsbee, the school’s business administrator and asked what would happen if the referendum didn’t pass.
The bottom line is that the district would need to start with roof replacements, which Bidnick suggested could be accomplished by a loan with money added to the operating budget. Notably, the state would not supplement the cost unless the referendum was approved by voters.
Voting Information
Lacey voters can participate in the referendum either by mail or in person:
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by March 11 or hand-delivered to the County Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
In-person voting will take place at polling locations throughout the township from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 11.
More information, including a full list of proposed projects and estimated tax impacts, can be found at laceyschools.org/vote.
