Tax Impact

The estimated tax rate of the 2025 bond is $1.13 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Collection would begin in 2027.

Estimate Your Monthly Property Tax Increase

Enter your home’s estimated value to calculate your monthly increase if the bond passes.

Debt Repayment Breakdown

The November 4th bond proposes a public funded capital investment to replace the current Lynden High School. The proposed project addresses enrollment growth, aging infrastructure, and the need for purpose-built spaces that support learning for skilled jobs in the trades and post-secondary education.

  • Estimated Total Cost of Project: $160,006,278
  • Estimated State Assistance Funds: $31,000,000
  • Total Bond Request Amount: $129,006,278

If passed by voters, bonds are sold on open market as funds are needed to complete phases of the project. This is typically done across three cycles with each repayment term limited to a maximum of 22 years. Interest rates are not known until bonds are sold. Estimated interest rates are conservatively set using current bond rates plus 1%. Estimate being used for bond sales in 2026 is 5.81%

  • Estimated Total Cost of Debt Repayment (fees & interest): $126,054,000

The table below is intended to help property owners understand the long-term tax impacts. An assumption of an annual 4% increase in total property value is used to complete the estimates. It is important to understand that the Lynden School District will only collect the amount approved by voters which is the proposed amount of $129,006,278.

The assessor’s office adjusts the rate collected from property owners annually to ensure this is the case. In other words, the district does not collect more money if property values increase beyond the 4% assumption used in calculating the estimates.

YearTotal assessed value of all taxable property in District (tax base; assumes 4% annual growth)Annual tax collection by District for 2025 BondEstimated tax rate for 2025 Bond‘Example House’ value (assumes 4% annual growth)‘Example House’ estimated annual tax for 2025 Bond
2025$5,409,633,038No collectionNo collection$600,000No collection
2026$5,626,018,360No collectionNo collection$624,00No collection
2027$5,851,059,094$6,603,000$1.13 per $1,000$648,960$733
2028$6,085,101,458$6,866,000$1.13 per $1,000$674,918$763 
2029$6,328,505,516$7,162,000$1.13 per $1,000$701,915$793 
2030$6,581,645,737$7,447,000$1.13 per $1,000$729,992$825 
Show beyond 2030
YearTotal assessed value of all taxable property in District (tax base; assumes 4% annual growth)Annual tax collection by District for 2025 BondEstimated tax rate for 2025 Bond‘Example House’ value (assumes 4% annual growth)‘Example House’ estimated annual tax for 2025 Bond
2031$6,844,911,566$7,747,000$1.13 per $1,000$759,191$858 
2032$7,118,708,029$8,058,000$1.13 per $1,000$789,559$892 
2033$7,403,456,350$8,379,000$1.13 per $1,000$821,141$928 
2034$7,699,594,604$8,714,000$1.13 per $1,000$853,987$965 
2035$8,007,578,388$9,064,000$1.13 per $1,000$888,147$1,001
2036$8,327,881,524$9,426,000$1.13 per $1,000$923,672$1,044 
2037$8,660,996,784$9,801,000$1.13 per $1,000$960,619$1,086 
2038$9,007,436,656$10,194,000$1.13 per $1,000$999,044$1,129 
2039$9,367,734,122$10,602,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,039,006$1,174 
2040$9,742,443,487$11,027,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,080,566$1,221 
2041$10,132,141,226$11,465,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,123,789$1,270 
2042$10,537,426,875$11,923,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,168,740$1,321 
2043$10,958,923,951$12,404,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,215,489$1,374 
2044$11,397,280,909$12,898,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,264,109$1,428 
2045$11,853,172,145$13,415,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,314,673$1,486 
2046$12,327,299,031$13,951,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,367,261$1,545 
2047$12,820,390,992$14,511,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,421,951$1,607 
2048$13,333,206,632$15,092,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,478,829$1,671 
2049$13,866,534,897$15,695,000$1.13 per $1,000$1,537,982$1,738 
2050$14,421,196,293$10,600,000$0.74 per $1,000$1,599,501$1,184

Tax Exemptions

If you are a senior citizen or a person with disabilities with your residence in Washington State, you may qualify for a property tax reduction under the property tax exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities program.

Total Tax Comparison

The total assessed value of all taxable property within a school district drives the millage rate set by the County Assessor’s Office. Voters approve a set amount to be collected annually by the taxing district and millage rates are then adjusted annually. Property ‘rich’ districts generally have lower millage rates than property ‘poor’ districts resulting in a higher burden placed on property owners in property ‘poor’ districts.

The table below represents 2025 property values of county school districts, the millage rates, and total amount of money collected by each school district. Taxes collected include operational levies, capital levies, and capital bonds.

Source: Whatcom County Assessor 2025 Tax Book

Historical District Tax Information

The school district is committed to responsible fiscal stewardship and seeks to maintain consistent tax rates.

The table below summarizes total tax rates of the previous 25 years.