Washougal School District to provide levy information

The Washougal School District will host an event to provide information about its levy renewal request.

The district and the Washougal School Board will hold a “listening tour” event from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Jan. 13 at Hathaway Elementary School, featuring a presentation on the two levies that voters will see on the Feb. 10 ballot and opportunities to ask questions.

On Nov. 25, 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.