“If you’re elected – and assuming you aren’t subsequently elected Speaker or Minority Leader – what will you do to help end the $100,000-a-day fines the state Supreme Court levied on the Legislature in the wake of the McCleary decision?”

Our state constitution says it is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.

No other state constitution has this strong of language when it comes to education.

This is a responsibility I take seriously – not only as a state representative, but as a mother and grandmother. A world-class education system is the foundation for strong families and vibrant communities.

I’m proud to have voted for bipartisan operating budgets that have made historic investments in our public schools. Over the last four years, we have increased K-12 education funding by $4.8 billion – a 36 percent increase. These new investments resulted in smaller K-3 class sizes, full-day kindergarten, much-deserved pay raises for teachers, and more financial support for materials, supplies and operating costs.

The Legislature, in an effort led by Republicans, also lowered tuition at our public colleges and universities in 2015. No other state can make such a claim.

Despite all of these new investments and reforms, the state Supreme Court has said our state is still not doing enough. The Legislature is expected to take the next step, which is to address the reliance of school districts on local levies to fund the state’s program of basic education. It’s a complex issue that must be addressed next year.

Senate Bill 6195, a bipartisan measure I supported this year, has set the table for 2017 by establishing three important things.

First, it commissioned a study to collect information on the amount of local levy dollars used to pay for the state’s obligation to fund basic education. This data will help define the financial obligation of our state.

Secondly, SB 6195 created the bipartisan Education Funding Task Force. This group is expected to make recommendations on the level of compensation needed to hire and retain state-funded basic education staff.

Finally, the bill says the Legislature must take action by the end of the 2017 legislative session to eliminate school district dependency on local levies for implementation of the state’s program of basic education.

One of the solutions being considered is levy reform, also referred to as a levy swap. While there are different proposals, one of the concepts would increase the state property tax by the amount of new state spending for K-12 education. It would also decrease the local maintenance and operation levy by the same dollar as the increase in the first step. This would change the source of the funding to the state, but not the total funding for K-12 education.

Under this concept, areas with higher property values would likely pay more, while many areas with lower property values would likely pay less. This would make our state tax system less regressive.

Depending on the details of the proposal, there is a possibility Federal Way schools would receive more money while Federal Way property owners would see a decrease in their taxes. This would be a win-win for our community.

There are other levy reform proposals, and all are complex. When you start proposing variations of school district funding and property taxes, you can expect opposition.

Another idea being considered for additional revenue, put forward by Democrats, is a new capital gains tax. I have concerns about this option because it would be an unstable funding source during economic downturns. I also believe it could be a first step to a new state income tax – something I do not support.

When considering solutions, tax increases should always be the last resort.

The 2017 legislative session promises to be challenging. Ideas put forward are going to require bipartisan input and support, regardless of which party controls the House and Senate. My voting record shows I’m willing to reach across the aisle and collaborate with Democrats.

I look forward to working closely with parents, teachers, school administrators, and other local stakeholders to determine how proposals would impact us at the local level. I welcome you to be a part of this important process. In the end, I will vote based on this input and what is ultimately best for our students, teachers and schools.