2026 Capital Levy

A levy is a short-term tax (3-6 yrs). It is a property tax and collected twice a year, in April and October. The money is spent by the district as it is collected. South Kitsap levy money stays in South Kitsap. This money goes toward maintaining existing buildings, not building new ones.

A bond is a long-term tax (10-25 years). It is given to the district all at once and is repaid over time, like a mortgage. This money goes toward new construction and big renovations. South Kitsap does not have any bond debt and is not currently asking voters to consider a bond. Bonds require a 60% super majority to pass.

Washington is only required to fully fund “basic education”. The state leaves the costs of operating, constructing, and maintaining a school district up to the communities. Levies and bonds fill the gap between state funds and the real cost of services and structures.

Levies expire every 3-6 years. Schools need voters to continue to fund them.

Washington’s public schools are funded through state revenue (78%), local levies (15%), and federal revenue (7%). Although federal revenue represents only a small share of Washington’s overall education funding, it is vital—making up more than 30% of the budget in some rural school districts. It supports essential programs such as services for students identified as low-income, multilingual/English learners, educator training, and more.

Districts also rely on local levies to provide resources not covered by the state’s basic education funding. Local levies support extracurricular programs (music, sports, clubs), student support services (counselors, nurses, mental health programs), classroom materials, technology, supplies, and staff positions that are not fully funded by the state.

State revenue is the primary source of Washington’s public-school funding. State timber, lottery, and cannabis revenue also contribute to public education. In reality, only a small portion of timber, lottery, and cannabis revenue goes toward K–12 operating funds.

For more information, visit OSPI.

State revenue is the primary source of Washington’s public-school funding. State timber, lottery, and cannabis revenue also contribute to public education. In reality, only a small portion of timber, lottery, and cannabis revenue goes toward K–12 operating funds. Get a breakdown from OPSI here.

Before exploring how funding is allocated, it’s helpful to start with the McCleary case—a major milestone in Washington’s school funding history. 

In 2007, the McCleary family filed a lawsuit arguing that the state was not meeting its constitutional duty to make ample provision for public education. 

In 2012, the Washington Supreme Court ruled in the family’s favor, stating that Washington state has not provided adequate funding for basic education. A constitutionally sufficient funding model must be developed and implemented.

In response, the Legislature created the prototypical school funding model, which increased state support for K–12 education. This model outlines the formula the state uses to determine most K–12 funding for school districts. We’ll explore this model in the next section. 

The Legislature also capped the amount that local school districts could raise through local levies. While the Court required the state to reduce reliance on local levy funding, it did NOT require a levy cap—this was a policy decision made by the Legislature to accompany increased state funding. 

In Washington, most K–12 funding for school districts is determined using the prototypical school funding model. 

A prototypical school is a hypothetical model that estimates the staff, materials, and resources needed to operate an average school. The state defines a school size, then calculates how many staff positions are funded based on that size.

Learn more at OPSI.

Basic Education is defined by state law, and covers learning tools, the educational environment, educators and staff, and some additional learning programs.

Basic education DOES NOT include all aspects that are central to a student's school day. For example, school buildings and their maintenance are not defined in state law as basic education, and neither are school meals.

Learn more at OPSI.

Due to the McCleary decision, 2019 marked the peak of public-school funding in Washington state. 

Once you adjust for inflation, the Legislature’s investments in our schools since then have lost ground. 
Since 2019, school districts have faced rising maintenance and supply costs, with insurance alone increasing by nearly $50 million statewide annually.

Learn more at OPSI.