Bonds and Levies
There are programs, construction, staff and more that our community has committed to providing for students. These are expenses either NOT funded or NOT FULLY funded by state and federal dollars.
To close those funding gaps for our students, Tahoma (and all Washington state public school districts) proposes bonds and levies to their local communities.
In simple terms, BONDS are for BUILDING and LEVIES are for LEARNING
Bonds
State and federal dollars do not fund construction and maintenance of schools, so voter-approved bond measures finance these costs. Bonds are typically financed over about 20 years and have specific requirements for how funds can be used.
Voters approved a $195M bond measure in fall 2013, which funded the construction of Tahoma High School, Lake Wilderness Elementary School, and additional building improvements at all District campuses that keep our schools warm, safe and dry.
Did you know... A recent refinance of our 2013 bonds will save local taxpayers $6.5 million through 2023?
Levies
Levy dollars pay for programs, staff and classroom materials like technology devices. Security staff, coaches and athletic teams, extracurricular advisors and the programs that they support like robotics and drama, are partially or fully funded by levies.
When levies are approved by voters, a tax is "levied" against property owners. The amount collected is based off a determined amount of a property owner's assessed value. For example, Tahoma's current Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy was passed by voters in 2024 at an estimated tax rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Levy spending is reviewed annually and costs are "rolled back" to taxpayers if funds go unused.
Our community approved two levies in 2024 for a 2-year collection: an Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and a Technology Capital Projects (Tech) Levy, which expire in 2026.
Our Current Levies:
EP&O Levy (expires in 2026)
The EP&O levy funds programs, people, and supplies not funded or underfunded by state basic education money. Levy funds are controlled by the school district to support a full range of education programs and activities for students. For example, state apportionment funds approx. 1.7 safety & security personnel for the entire district. Because of the EP&O Levy, Tahoma has 9 staff dedicated to student, staff and school safety. Here are some other expenses that Tahoma's EP&O levy funds:
- Athletics
- Academic coaches and athletic coaches
- Activities and Clubs (drama, Camp Casey, We the People, Speech and Debate, etc.)
- Field trips
- Summer School
- Extended Enrichment Program
- Facility use
- Zero hour classes
- Increased mental health support
The EP&O Levy was passed by voters in 2024 at a tax rate of approx. $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Based on fluctuating property values, the rate may decrease. However, the District cannot collect more than $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Here's how much is collected for the EP&O levy each year:
Year | Rate | Total |
---|---|---|
2025 | $2.37 | $28.3M |
2026 | $2.50 | $29.7M |
Technology Levy (expires in 2026)
State basic education funding provides some money for classroom technology. However, the technology needs for TSD are not fully funded by the state. A Technology Levy ensures that there is dedicated funding that is earmarked for technology resources. The levy pays for the replacement of outdated computers and software, improvements to infrastructure, and hiring support staff.
Thanks to the community passing the Technology Levy in 2024, funding is available for Tahoma's Technology Plan, created by a committee of parents, community members, staff & students called the Tech Advisory. The Technology Plan guides how learning is improved through the use of classroom technology.
Here's how much is collected for the technology levy each year:
Year | Rate | Total |
---|---|---|
2025 | $0.37 | $4.5M |
2026 | $0.41 | $4.9M |
This page will be updated periodically to reflect the latest information (last updated December 2024).
If you have additional budget questions, please send us an email at TSDMessages@TahomaSD.US