Peninsula Schools Asks Voters to Renew Levy Feb. 10

The Peninsula School District will seek to replace its Education Programs and Operations levy in a special election Feb. 10. The levy was last approved in 2023 and expires at the end of 2026.

The EP&O levy, also called an enrichment levy, would continue to pay for district expenses not covered by Washington state, since the Legislature determined they do not meet the state’s definition of “basic education” needs that the state is required to fund.

According to PSD, these include portions of salaries, maintenance, transportation, technology, and programs such as music and athletics. There are also plans to improve the athletic fields and launch a program for homeschool students to receive curriculum support, in addition to the extracurricular activities already available to them. (See "Uneven Playing Fields," Dec. 2025.)

The levy accounts for about 17% of the district budget.

The ballot language asks for “(A)n excess tax levy to be made annually for three years commencing in 2026 for collection in 2027 of $35,800,000, in 2027 for collection in 2028 of $37,800,000, and in 2028 for collection in 2029 of $39,800,000.”

PSD estimates that means an annual EP&O levy rate of $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That translates to $650 for property assessed at $500,000, or about $54 a month.

The current EP&O has cost between $1.11 and $1.13 per $1,000. Together with the existing Safety, Security, and Technology levy and the capital facilities bond, the total current level is $1.81 per $1,000, or about $905 for a $500,000 property.

This does not include the state school levy set by the Legislature, which can range from $2.30 to $3.60 per $1,000 in different parts of the state. The local rate appears on the bill from the county assessor.

“The exact levy rates and amounts to be collected may be adjusted based upon the actual assessed value of taxable property within the District and the limitations imposed by State law at the time of the levy,” according to the ballot language.

There was no statement opposing the levy in the Pierce County voters’ pamphlet, but complaints about it began appearing on social media soon after it became available.

To read the voters' pamphlet ballot information, go to: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/154344/Peninsula-SD_edition-8

For more information on how PSD spends the Education Programs and Operations levy, go to: