The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy is critical to maintaining programs at our local schools.

The levy funds continued investment in programs, staff, and student resources that are not fully funded by state funding. Some examples include;

• Educators, including teachers and specialists;
• School and district support staff, including grounds, maintenance, secretarial, paraeducators, and nutrition services; 
• School safety officers;
• Custodians;
• Technology support;
• Athletics and sports teams;
• After-school activities;
• Arts and music;
• Early learning;
• Highly capable;
• Preventative maintenance;
• Transportation; and
• Curriculum updates.

The levy replaces the expring EP&O Levy approved by voters in 2023. The levy accounts for about 17% of the district’s overall budget.

The levy allows the district to invest in rigorouse academic curriculum, instructional materials, and programs to help students succeed. Levy funds will provide targeted help for students who need it and additional teachers and staff to support academics, arts, music, and student enrichment. 

All levy funds approved by PSD voters stay in our school district. 

Yes, each year, after certifying our levy with the county, an updated levy plan is posted on our website that outlines the usage of our levy. 

The Educational Operations and Programs (EP&O) Levy plan, which expires at the end of 2026, is linked on our website.

The proposed 2027-2029 EP&O Levy plan, is linked on our website. 

The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy rate is estimated to be $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. 

The total local school tax rate, including the replacement EP&O levy, the exisiting Safety, Security, and Technology Levy, and the exisiting 2019 bond, is estimated to be $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed value, beginning in 2027. 

The levy is for a fixed dollar amount, and PSD cannot collect more money if property values or student enrollment increase beyond the estimated figures. 

PSD will continue to be fiscally responsible, making essential investments in our students while maintaining the second-lowest overall school tax rate in Pierce County.

The yearly collection amount proposed for the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy is for 3 years as follows:

• $35.8 million in 2027;
• $37.8 million in 2028; and
• $39.8 million in 2029. 

An owner of a $500,000 home is currently paying approximately $900 at the local school tax rate of $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed value and would see a slight increase to $995 a year, or $7.92 a month.

An owner of a $1,000,000 home would see an increase from $1,800 to $1,990 a year, or $15.83 a month.

The Replacement Educational Program and Operations Levy would be collected in the calendar years of 2027 through 2029.

The Safety, Security, and Technology Levy was a 6-year levy passed in 2023, and it will continue to be collected at the estimate tax rate of $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value each year through 2029. 

Peninsula School District voters approved the Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy in 2023, at 64.15%. The 2023 levy expires in December 2026, so the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy will renew that expiring levy. 

Levies are for learning, bonds are for building. 

The bond our community voted to approve in February 2019 was used to build Pioneer and Swift Water elementary schools, replace Artondale and Evergreen elementary schools, and modernize Key Peninsula and Kopachuck middle schools. The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy supports all other PSD programs and bridges the gap for essential funding beyond state basic education.

The Washington Legislature has made progress in its efforts to fund education, but it still funds only what it considers “basic education,” which accounts for 74.5% of our district’s budget. The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy funds about 17% of the district’s budget, while federal funds and other sources make up the remaining 7%. 

The state funds basic education based on an out-of-date funding formula that does not account for the needs of public schools in the 21^st century School board members, students, and Superintendent Krestin Bahr spent significant time testifying in Olympia, submitting letters, and meeting with legislators throughout the 2025 legislative session to advocate for education funding. Together with public education advocates from across our state, we asked fo full funding for special education, transportation support, and inflation adjustments for Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC). The final state budget did not fund these priorities as we had hoped, which means districts are still unable to cover basic education costs. In response, we must continue to fill the gap using local levy dollars.

While total dollars invested in K-12 has increased over the last decade, the K-12 share of investment has declined since the 2019-2021 biennium. In that biennium, the state invested $26.6 billion into K-12 education, making up 51.6% of the state’s total operating budget. For the 2025-2027 biennium, the state invested $33.7 billion into K-12 education, make up 43.2% of the state’s total operating budget. 

If the state invested the 2019-2021 biennium percentage (51.6%) of the total state operating budget in K-12 for the 2025-2027 biennium, that would result in an additional $6.5 billion for K-12 education.OSPI provided this information during a presentation on June 5, 2025 on slide 10. You can also view other OSPI trainings and presentation on this web page.

The district has built in $200,000 into the levy for professional development that would have otherwise been covered under the federal Title II program. The district has received communication that federal Title II will not be available to districts beginning in 2026-2027, so we created dedicated professional development. In addition, the levy will support the loss of federal dollars for our multi-language learners. 

All levy funds approved by PSD voters stay in our local school district and benefit our students, unlike the State School Levy 1 and State School Levy 2 that are collected from our taxpayers and then redistributed to other districts across our state.

Local school levies are approved for a limited number of years, and then they expire. The duration of Educational Programs and Operations levies most common ranges from 2 to 4 years. School districts ask voters to renew their levies as they approach expiration. The Peninsula School District’s current Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy is set to expire on December 31, 2026.

Levy funds can be used to hire additional staff including teachers and other certificated staff, for enhanced programs or reduced class sizes. They can be used to pay basic education salaries in excess of what the state funds for teachers. 

Examples include positions such as;

• music teachers; 
• school counselors;
• nurses;
• athletic instructions; and 
• staff that provide intervention services for our students.

Yes, Washington State law provides two tax benefit programs for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities; property tax exemptions and property tax deferrals. 

For more information on qualifications, visit the Pierce County website.

PSD convened a Long-Range Facilities Advisory Committee in Winter 2024, and it has initiated a review of our facilities, including our high schools. You can read the committee’s report to the board and watch the board presentation for more information.

You can register to vote on the Pierce County elections website. Ballots are due February 10, 2026 by 8 p.m.