Washougal school board puts 2 levies on Feb. 10 ballot

Voters in the Washougal School District will decide on two levies in February.

On Tuesday, the Washougal school board voted to place a $32.4 million educational programs and operations levy and a $10.3 million capital renewal levy on the Feb. 10 ballot.

If approved by voters, both levies would provide funding for three years and replace the current levies, which expire at the end of 2026.

“The proposed levies continue our community’s strong tradition of supporting Washougal students and fund the programs and staffing that make Washougal’s schools a great place for our kids,” board President Sadie McKenzie said in a news release.

Local levy funds account for about 20 percent of the district’s overall budget, according to the news release.

The operations levy, if renewed, would continue to pay for additional teachers to maintain small class sizes, security staff, nurses, school counselors and instructional support staff. It also underwrites such enrichment programs as art, music, drama, athletics, after-school activities and highly capable programs.

The capital levy would pay for school safety improvements, building repairs, instructional technology, and updates to athletic and performing arts spaces.

The district is proposing rates of $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the operations levy and 62 cents per $1,000 for the capital levy. If voters approve the levies, the Washougal school taxes that homeowners would pay would be lower than what they’re projected to pay in 2026, according to the news release.

If voters approve the levies, the owner of a $636,000 home would pay about $1,635 a year, about $9 less per month in local levy costs in 2027 than in 2026, according to the district. Levy costs would decrease in 2027 and 2028, then return in 2029 to about the same monthly amount as in 2026 to account for inflation, according to district projections.

Voters rejected new operations and capital levies in February 2023 but approved them two months later.

“Our goal is to maintain high-quality opportunities for Washougal students while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” McKenzie said.