Thank You, Voters!
A three-year EP&O levy, approved by Skamania voters in February 2023, is currently supporting programs in our school that are either unfunded or underfunded by state and federal dollars.
In Skamania, we rely heavily on local levy funds, which provide approximately 12% of the district’s total operating budget. As many as 290 public school districts (out of the state’s 295 districts) rely on local levy funding.
The current tax rate (per $1,000 of assessed property value) is estimated to be $1.15 in 2025 and 2026 – significantly less than other districts in our area.
What is an Educational Programs & Operations Levy?
An educational programs and operations levy, also called an EP&O levy or an enrichment levy, is a funding measure that helps bridge the gap between education funding provided from the state and federal government and what it actually costs to run a school district. While state and federal funds provide a large portion of the funding for school districts each year, this funding does not cover all of the expenses students, staff and families count on as part of their educational experience. Local levy funds are critical for districts like Skamania to continue to provide a quality, safe and rewarding educational experience for all students in the district.
Collection Amounts for 2024 – 2026:
| Year (Jan-Dec) | Amount Collected* | Rate per $1,000 of assessed value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $250,000 | $1.16 |
| 2025 | $265,000 | $1.15 |
| 2026 | $280,000 | $1.15 |
| $795,000 total |
*Note: Skamania School District cannot collect more than the total approved amount per year.
For more information
Contact the superintendent’s office at kchavarria@skamania.k12.wa.us or 509-427-8239.
What does the levy currently fund?
Programs supported by levy dollars include, but are not limited to:
- Teacher and support staff salaries to maintain low student-to-teacher ratio
- Food services, including staff, nutritious meals, and free breakfast and lunch for all students
- Counseling services
- Costs of special education beyond what the state funds
- Teaching services
- Paid professional development
- Transportation for daily routes, field trips, and extracurricular activities
- Combined principal/superintendent position to maximize efficiency and reduce administrative costs
- Business services staff positions
- Data processing system
- Central office staff
Levy funding makes up 12% of Skamania’s total operating budget. State funding (82%) and federal funding (6%) make up the remaining portion.