Puget Sound School Levies Weighed

- On February 10, 2026, voters in Tacoma approved two replacement levies, with Proposition 1 passing at 70.8% to continue funding for nearly 500 staff positions, including teachers, nurses, and counselors. This measure accounts for about 17% of the district's day-to-day operational budget. - The Lake Washington School District's two replacement levies for educational programs and capital projects both saw initial approval rates of over 60% in the February 2026 election. The combined levies represent 16% of the district's total budget for 2027-2030 and are projected to cost property owners an additional $0.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. - In Snohomish County, voters passed 17 out of 21 school district measures in the February 10 special election, committing a total of $2.9 billion to education. The Snohomish School District's four-year operations levy passed with 56.32% approval and will raise $172.1 million at an estimated rate of $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed value. - Local school levies in Washington are intended to supplement state funding for "basic education" and require a simple majority (50% + 1 vote) to pass. These voter-approved property taxes are capped, generally at a maximum rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of a property's assessed value. - The funds from these local levies frequently pay for services and staff not fully covered by the state's funding model, such as special education programs, school nurses, counselors, and extracurricular activities like sports and music. - In Spokane County, the February 10, 2026, special election included a proposition from the East Valley School District for a $220 million bond to replace its high school and middle school. Several other districts, including Newport and Rosalia, also had propositions on the ballot.