ELECTIONS

Voters Approve School Levy in Special Election

The levy was passing as of Feb. 11 by 59.9% to 40.1%.

Vote results as of Feb. 11. More votes remain to be counted before certification, Feb. 20. Washington Secretary of State

Posted Wednesday, February 11, 2026 10:11 am

What Are You Paying?

The total payable on a property tax bill is expressed as a dollar amount of tax per $1,000 of assessed value. That is called the mill rate or millage, a word that derives from the Latin “millesimal,” meaning “thousandth part” (1/1,000). One mill is $0.001 of the amount to which it is applied.

Millage rates are listed as tax code area rates for individual properties on the assessor’s website.

To convert millage to dollars, divide the mill rate by 1,000 and multiply by the property’s taxable value.

For example, a KP house assessed at $500,000 has a mill rate of 8.85. This is the total of all government taxes and voter-approved levies per $1,000 of taxable value. Divide 8.85 by 1,000 to get 0.00885. Multiply that by $500,000 to get $4,425. Add to that all the fees for weed control, etc., say $150, to get $4,575. Divide that total by the assessed value, $500,000, and multiply by 100 to find the tax percentage. In this example, the result is an effective tax rate of 0.92%.

The same can be done for individual items on the tax bill.

STAFF REPORT

The Peninsula School District’s bid to replace its current Education Programs and Operations levy was approved by voters after a special election Feb. 10, with 59.9% in favor and 40.1% against as of 5:15 p.m., Feb. 11, according to preliminary results from the office of the Washington Secretary of State.

The replacement levy, also known as an enrichment or EP&O levy, covers district expenses not paid for by the State of Washington, as the Legislature has determined that those costs do not meet the state’s definition of “basic education” needs, which the state is required to fund.

It will also increase taxes on local property owners.

Eleven of the 17 precincts on the Key Peninsula voted to renew the levy at a higher level, and six voted against, according to the latest count.

Approximately 20,191 out of 55,224 voters from the 26th legislative district weighed in on the levy for a 37% turnout, so far. More votes remain to be counted. The Pierce County turnout was approximately 26%, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

There were 17 school levies statewide. All of them were passing at the close of Election Day.

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

According to PSD, it covers 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.

Going into the election, PSD estimated 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 cost is 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.

For more on election results, go to:

https://results.votewa.gov/results/public/pierce-county-wa/elections/20260210

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

https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/5433/2025-2026_levy_spending_plan_2.pdf

Voters Approve School Levy in Special Election

The levy was passing as of Feb. 11 by 59.9% to 40.1%.

Candidate Mike Solan On County Council Race

Mustard Seed Village Faces Medicaid Cuts to Assisted …

Brenda Lykins in Bid for Pierce County Council

Seahawks Rout Tides 37-8, Even Fish Bowl Rivalry

All Ages Community Nights

Lakebay Fuchsia Society

Key Free Clinic

Key Peninsula Beekeepers

Story Time for Mixed Ages

Community Sewing Day

Bird Walks with Chris Rurik

KP Candidate Forum