Thank you, voters! As of April 23, 2024, at 8:01 p.m., unofficial results show the Replacement EP&O levy passing at 53.09% and the Capital Improvements and Safety levy passing at 52.03%.
Vote by April 23
The two measures on the April 23 ballot would fund student educational programs, athletics and activities, technology, safety and security, and capital facilities improvements in Lakewood School District. Both levies are four-year levies, with collections in 2025-2028.
“These levies are not only an investment in our schools, they are an investment in Lakewood’s future,” said Dr. Erin Murphy, Superintendent. “They provide students with the resources and programs they need to thrive and become future community leaders.”
Join us for an information session
March 21 at 5:30 p.m. (Paddle Pub Meet and Greet)
March 25 at 5 p.m. (Virtual on Facebook Live)
April 8 at 6 p.m. (Cougar Creek Elementary)
April 11 at 5:30 p.m. (Lakewood Middle School)
Replacement Levy for Educational Programs and Operations
No anticipated tax-rate increase
The EP&O levy replaces the current EP&O levy that is expiring.
No anticipated tax-rate increase for the combined tax collection due to the district’s 2024 refinancing of bonds.
Property tax is voted on and based upon the assessed values of all properties within the district.
School districts only levy a specific dollar amount. When asking voters for approval, they are required by law to provide an estimate of the tax rate. This helps individuals understand the potential tax burden they might have as the district cannot estimate every individual's assessed value in the district during the collection years.
The current EP&O collection amount in 2024 is about $6.8 million. If approved, the collection amount in 2025 would be $7.5 million.
With the refinancing of the 2014 bonds, the district will save taxpayers more than $500,000 annually in collection. The refinance savings will offset the majority of the 2025 EP&O levy increase from 2024 to 2025. It allows the district to estimate no change in the combined tax rate.
The EP&O levy represents about 14% of the district’s operating budget.
This levy ensures that our students have continued access to staff who will support their academic, physical and mental health needs. Examples of these costs include:
The Capital Improvements and Safety Levy is a new levy. It focuses on the maintenance and preservation of district facilities and safety/security improvements across the district and seeks to address the short-term needs identified by the Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee.
MAINTENANCE & PRESERVATION
Replace failing roof and aging boiler
Improvements to HVAC/heating systems
Replace aging electrical panels and flooring
Upgrade lighting for cost efficiency and legal compliance
SAFETY & SECURITY
Install access control system with lockdown functionality on exterior doors
Remember to vote by April 23, 2024. Need to register or update your voter information? Visit votewa.gov. Ballots must be postmarked by April 23 (no stamp needed) or received in a ballot dropbox by 8 p.m. on April 23.
Need to register or update your voter information? Visit votewa.gov. Ballots must be postmarked by April 23 (no stamp needed) or received in a ballot dropbox by 8 p.m. on April 23. Residents can register to vote online up to one week before Election Day or in person up to and on Election Day. For more information, visit the Snohomish County website.
Property Tax Exemptions and Income Threshold Changes
Some senior (age 61+) and disabled homeowners may be eligible for reduced property tax rates or exemptions. Income thresholds for these programs changed in 2024 and vary from $54,000 to $75,000. To learn more, call the Snohomish County Assessor's Office at (425) 388-3433 or visit their website.
Is your group interested in learning more about Lakewood School District's April 23, 2024 levies? Let us know!
This is a custom app called Important Announcement which does not exist in Composer elements. Please work with your Client Enablement Consultant or join a Best Practice Workshop on how to add the content using Composer best practices.
Local Funding for Local Priorities
The money Lakewood collects from local, voter-approved education levies stays in our district. We use these funds to provide the quality of education that our students and families expect, and to ensure our students have safe, welcoming schools that support student success.
The state does not fully fund education. About 14% of the district budget comes from our local EP&O levy. Local funding is for local priorities. In Lakewood, our community has told us that they value smaller class sizes, academic support to meet the needs of all students, nurses, social/emotional and mental health support, safety and security, athletics and activities. These are all local priorities that are paid for by the levy.
Yes. Much of what the EP&O levy funds is people — additional adults helping to provide a quality education and give children the support they need in both academic and social-emotional learning. Lakewood's local levy provides nearly 14% of its annual operating budget, including additional positions above what the state funds.
The chart below shows examples of positions that the levy funds, based on the prototypical school model. It does not include all levy-funded positions.
A replacement levy is a local tax that replaces a levy that has expired. The current Educational Programs and Operations levy — nearly 14% of the district's budget — will expire at the end of 2024. The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy would be collected for four years, 2025-2028. Approval of this replacement levy will not changethe current tax rate.
No. Property taxes may fluctuate, but the district only collects the total amount approved by voters.
Property values may rise or fall, but according to state law, schools collect no more than the total dollar amount voters approve. When property values rise, rates go down. Conversely, if property values fall, rates rise to ensure property taxpayers only contribute the amount approved by voters.
No. Lakewood schools do not receive any sales tax revenue. Lakewood's typical school funding comes from the state (79%), local voter-approved levies (14%), federal (5%) and other sources (2%).
In 2023, a district Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee, comprised of parents, staff, and community volunteers, visited schools in the district to develop short- and long-term recommendations for capital improvements. As part of the committee’s Study and Survey, a team of architects and engineers toured the district’s schools in spring 2023 and compiled their findings in the state schools building condition database. For its short-term recommendations, the committee focused on (1) maintenance and preservation, and (2) safety and security projects across the district.
Examples of projects recommended by the committee that would be funded by this levy include:
Health and safety improvements such as access control systems with lockdown functionality at all schools, updated fire alarm systems, improved site security with fencing, communication infrastructure improvements, improved student drop-off/pickup traffic flow, and improved ADA handicap access.
Replace aging building systems like HVAC/heating systems, hot water systems, electrical, energy-efficient lighting and flooring.
Growth was a top priority identified by the Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee in its medium- and long-term priorities. CFAC also recognized that we cannot adequately plan for growth without maintaining our community’s investments in its existing facilities. For that reason, it focused its near-term priorities on maintenance and preservation, and safety and security. These near-term priorities are included in the 2024 Capital Improvements and Safety Levy.
Lakewood received one-time federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds from 2020-2023 to provide schools with resources to meet the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a summary of how these funds were used.
Program and Building Improvements/Classroom Modifications
Additional middle school music classroom to create additional classroom space
Enhanced HVAC systems at all schools
Preschool Playground
Counseling and Health Services
Full-time counselor at each elementary school beginning 2022-23 school year
Health room assistants
Care Solace mental health referrals
Academic Recovery Learning Supports and Summer School
Lakewood Summer Academy experiential learning classes available to all students
High-Impact Math Tutoring after school for grades 3-10 in 2023
Revolution Now Homework Help available to all students 24/7 in spring 2023
Additional instructional time for Special Education students in 2021-22
