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2026 Levy Election Update

The February 10 Special Election is certified and both of our replacement levies have passed! Thank you, voters! Our Educational Programs & Operations Levy passed with 56.39% of the vote, and our Technology Capital Levy passed with 56.83% of the vote. Levies require 50%+1 vote to pass, unlike bonds which require 60%. You can see the results for yourself, as well as the Final Certification Report at https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7959/Current-Election 

Election Day is February 10, 2026

In 2026, our district will have replacements of both our Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy and our Technology Capital Levy on the ballot.

These are replacement levies ... not new taxes

Both the Educational Programs and Operations Levy and Technology Capital Levy are replacements of expiring measures. They are not new taxes.

  • Both levies are at the same tax rates that voters approved in 2022.
  • The tax rate for our Educational Programs and Operations Levy will remain at $2.17 per $1,000 of assessed value.
  • The tax rate for our Technology Levy will remain at $0.31 per $1,000 of assessed value.
  • Our community has consistently supported these levies, the Tech Levy since 2014 and the EP&O for decades.
  • Election Day is February 10, 2026. Are you registered to vote?

Educational Programs and Operations Levy

Our Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy was last renewed in 2022. It accounts for 15% of our district’s budget. Over 90% of our EP&O Levy goes towards people. This includes over 400 staff serving in positions the state underfunds, or doesn’t fund at all, including:

  • Teachers, librarians, paraeducators, counselors, social workers and nurses
  • School Resource Officers, campus safety officers, custodians, and bus drivers
  • Arts, orchestra, band, and choir programs, including teachers
  • Middle and high school athletic programs, including coaches. These programs serve more than 5,000 students each year.
  • Special education, multilingual, and early learning staff
  • JROTC Programs
  • Highly Capable programs
  • Community resources supporting our homeless students, 
  • Bethel Rec, which serves more than 6,000 students every year
  • After-school activity buses

The EP&O levy isn’t unique to Bethel. Levies are a normal form of school funding in Washington state. In fact, over 100 districts will have EP&O levies on the ballot for renewal next year. And even though we’re one of the top 15 largest school districts in Washington, there are 100 districts that actually collect more than we do for their EP&O levies!

Technology Capital Levy

For nearly a decade, every student in our district has had access to a personal iPad. Using the iPads in classrooms has improved our students' technological literacy, enhanced their opportunities for creativity, and leveled the playing field for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. The devices are one of many useful tools in our teachers' toolboxes to help educate students and prepare them for a future where technology is a constant.

The Technology Capital Levy keeps classroom technology up to date, provides iPads for all students, cyber security and infrastructure. This levy funds:

  • Student iPads and other classroom devices
    • iPads are replaced every 3-4 years. We work with resellers to get the best value for the old devices, which puts millions of dollars back into our Tech Levy budget
  • Cybersecurity and data protection
  • Upgraded Wi-Fi and communication systems
  • Instructional software and digital curriculum
  • Pays for tech support staff

Local levies are an essential part of the school funding formula in Washington state

State funding is based on an outdated funding formula. All districts in Washington need to employ more teachers and staff than the formula pays for, which is why we need local levies to help supplement the appropriate number of staff and teachers.

Since 2019, the percentage of the state’s budget for K-12 education has gone down significantly. In 2019-21 it was 51.6%. From 2025-27 it will be 43.2%.

Passing our local levies allows Bethel to continue receiving Local Effort Assistance. That is more than $12 million annually of additional dollars from the state that only comes when local levies are approved by voters. If local levies are not approved, not only do we lose the levy money, but we lose the LEA money as well.

Over 100 districts will have EP&O levies on the ballot for renewal next year.

Even though we’re one of the top 15 largest school districts in Washington, there are 100 districts that actually collect more than we do for their EP&O levies
 

Your levy dollars at work

Building community through arts and science
Building community through arts and science

At Elk Plain School of Choice, education is defined by more than just curriculum. As the only K-8 school in the district, Elk Plain offers a unique environment where students grow from their first days of kindergarten to the brink of high school within the same supportive walls.

Rolling dice to level up real-life skills
Rolling dice to level up real-life skills

On any given afternoon at Frontier Middle School, you might find a group of students gathered around a table, rolling dice, imagining dragons, and setting off on epic quests. But beneath the fantasy adventure is something a little more unexpected: a lesson in real-life skills.

Meet Stan the Man!

Meet Stan Bardoni, one of the dedicated paraeducators who help make our schools safe, welcoming places to learn. At Spanaway Middle, Stan plays a key role in supporting students, staff, and visitors each day. Positions like Stan’s are essential to the daily life of our schools, yet they are often underfunded or not funded at all by the state. Thanks to our Educational Programs and Operations Levy, more than 400 staff members across the district -- including some of our amazing paraeducators -- are able to serve students and keep our schools safe and strong.

What every voter should know

Ballots are hitting mailboxes this week, and Superintendent Brian Lowney sums up both of our replacement levies in just 60 seconds. These levies aren't new taxes. They're renewals of existing support that funds critical programs and opportunities our students need to thrive. Our levies make it possible to offer smaller class sizes, extracurricular activities, advanced coursework, technology access, and support services that prepare students for life after graduation. Learn what these levies fund, why they matter for our community's students, and how they create educational experiences that wouldn't be possible with state funding alone. Don't forget to vote! Election Day is February 10.

EP&O Levy Videos

Levy supported Social Workers
Levy supported Counselors
Levy supported coaches: Football
Levy supported coaches: Bowling
Levy supported coaches: Unified Sports
Levy supported coaches: Wrestling
Levy supported band
Levy supported paraeducators

Tech Levy Videos

Tech Levy: A decade of devices
Tech Levy: LEGO Robotics
Tech Levy in Action
 

Levy Hot Seat

Ready for a bite-sized blast of heat?! Our student-hosted show "Levy Hot Seat" is back in a snack-sized 2-minute version! Watch the highlights as Superintendent Brian Lowney and School Board Director Terrance Mayers Sr. tackle scorching wings while answering red-hot questions about our upcoming replacement levies. All the sweat, squirms, and milk-reaching moments you loved, now in a quick, shareable format. Don't miss this spicy spectacle, and catch the full version here.

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