2025 Replacement Levies

Local funds supporting local kids

On February 11, 2025, the Manson School District will present two replacement levies to voters to replace current levies set to expire in December 2025.

These are not new taxes. 

If approved, the two levies would be a continuation of the previous voter-approved levies Both levies support student learning in all grades within the district.

State funding does not fully cover the actual costs of operating a school district, so levies help bridge the funding gap. Levies enable the district to provide essential programs and services. If the levies are not renewed, there would be substantial cuts to staffing, programs, and operations, which would affect the educational programs and support available to students. 

Revenue generated by the Capital and EP&O levies support the learning of all 600+ students at Manson School District! 

Proposition 1 - Replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy (3-Year) Funds important school services, programs, teachers, support staff, supplies, and materials. Art and Music Athletics Counseling and Individual Student Supports Early Learning Extracurriculars Food Services Library Programs Small Class Sizes Student Transportation

Proposition 2 - Replacement Capital Levy to Improve School Safety, Security, Technology, and Facilities (3-Year) Funds vital items like modern technology, enhanced building security, and renovation projects. Building and Classroom Repairs HVAC Systems Plumbing and Electrical Systems Outdoor Facility Repairs and Upgrades Technology Infrastructure and Systems Student and Staff Instructional Equipment

 

The District is strategically proposing these replacement levies simultaneously to minimize unnecessary duplication of election costs for both the District and taxpayers. Additionally, a three-year levy cycle enables the District to regularly adjust the collection amounts to meet the current needs of the District and its students.

 

* Tax rates per $1,000 of assessed property value. Proposed rates are estimates. Levy collection amounts do not change. The estimated tax rate could decrease or increase, based on community growth and assessed values, but the maximum collection amounts will not change.

Click here to use the 2025 School Tax Calculator.

Did you know that 98% of public school districts in Washington have voter-approved levies?

Of the 289 Districts in the state of Washington with levies, 233 have higher local tax rates than Manson School District. Only 55 districts have lower local tax rates than Manson. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a levy tax and a levy rate?

A levy is a short-term, local property tax passed by the voters of a school district that generates revenue for the district to fund programs and services for students that the state does not fund or fully fund as part of “basic education.”

Levies require a simple majority to pass (50% + 1).

A replacement levy is the renewal of an existing levy that is about to expire. Typically, if a district is asking for a replacement levy to be approved by voters, it means that it is simply the continuation of an existing tax.

A levy rate is the amount of property tax collected per $1,000 of assessed property value. The money collected is used to fund a voter-approved total levy collection amount over a series of years.

Example: If a homeowner has a home valued at $500,000 and the levy rate is $1.00 for every $1,000 of assessed property value, the homeowner will pay $500 annually in property taxes.

During the election, the proposed tax rates are estimates. If approved, the estimated tax rate could decrease or increase, based on community growth and assessed values, but the voter-approved maximum collection amounts will not change.

What levy taxes are being proposed for the next three years?

On February 11, 2025, the district will propose two replacement levies, which are set to expire in December 2025. Both levies support student learning in all grades within the district.

• Proposition 1 - Replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy (3-Year)
  • Funds important school services and positions like teachers, support staff, and supplies or materials. For example, this includes all sports and extracurricular activities for students.
     
• Proposition 2 - Replacement Capital Levy to Improve School Safety, Security, Technology, and Facilities (3-Year)
  • Funds vital items like modern technology, enhanced building security, and renovation projects. For example, levy funds supported the cost of the new Early Learning Center.

The District is strategically proposing these replacement levies simultaneously to minimize unnecessary duplication of election costs for both the district and taxpayers. Additionally, a three-year levy cycle enables the District to regularly adjust the collection amounts to meet the current needs of the District and its students.

Why is a levy needed?

Washington is only legally required to fully fund what they define to be “basic education” based on a funding distribution formula referred to as the “prototypical model.” This model represents the Legislature’s assumptions about the costs associated with providing a “basic education” to students. Because the funding comes by way of a formula, it often supports only part of the staffing or other services required in a school.

For example:

• The average salary for teachers at Manson School District is $80,129 per year, but the District only receives $78,209 per year from the state to cover each teacher’s salary.
   
• The state currently funds 33.13 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) teachers at Manson School District through basic education apportionment, but the District employs 47.54 FTE teachers to meet student needs.

The District is able to support these additional expenses through the revenue generated by local levies. 

What does the money generated by levies pay for within the Manson School District?

The revenue generated by the Capital and EP&O levies support the learning of all 600+ students at Manson School District! Here are just a few examples of what the levies currently support:

• Music Programs
  • 2 elementary art/music certified teachers
  • 2 secondary art teachers (1 music, 1 visual arts)
  • Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Beginning Band

• Athletics
  • Middle school and high school athletics including football, basketball, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, cheer, and cross-country

• Extra Curricular
  • Clubs like Knowledge Bowl, Outdoor Club, Interact Club, Raza Latina Club

• Unfunded MSOC
  • Including materials, supplies, and operating costs like insurance, utilities, and fuel

• Unfunded Staff
  • Including 12 teachers, sub costs, and sick leave expenses

• Technology
  • If voters approve the Capital levy, our Technology budget will double, enabling us to update technology for teachers, students, and classrooms.

• Facilities
  • The Capital levy funds renovation projects, including the new Early Learning Center, which cost the district $3.3 million.
  • The Capital levy assists the District in covering the actual costs of its facilities and school buildings, including repairs, HVAC systems, and other essential items to ensure the safety of students and staff.
  • Our buildings are quickly aging. Did you know:
    • Our elementary school was built in 1945 and had a major remodel in 1996
    • Our secondary school was built in 1955, had a major remodel in 1998, and a small addition in 2019
    • New schools are expensive. Cascade School District’s new high school cost about 25 million in 2019 and Almira High School is projected to cost 19 million.

How do the proposed rates compare to prior levy rates for the District?

Review the table below to compare the terms of the replacement levies to previous voter-approved levies.

Historical Voter-Approved Rates vs Proposed Rates*

Collection Year	EP&O Approved	Capital Approved	Combined Approved
2020	$1.50	$0.49	$1.99
2021	$1.50	$0.49	$1.99
2022	$1.38	$0.49	$1.87
2023	$1.32	$0.49	$1.81
2024	$1.11	$0.49	$1.70
2025	$1.04	$0.49	$1.53
2026*	$1.14*	$0.55*	$1.69*
2027*	$1.13*	$0.55*	$1.68*
2028*	$1.12*	$0.55*	$1.67*

 

            Terms of February 2025 Replacement Levies

Year	Collection Amount (EP&O)	EPO Rate	Collection Amount (Capital)	Capital Rate
2026	2,200,000	1.14	1,034,035	0.55
2027	2,250,000	1.13	1,034,035	0.55
2028	2,300,000	1.12	1,034,035	0.55

Is there a tax break for senior citizens or the disabled?

Yes! If you are at least 61 years old on December 31 of the application year with an annual household disposable income of $43,588 or less, or unable to work because of a disability, or a veteran with an 80% disability rating for a service connected disability, you may be eligible for the Washington State property tax exemption program (dor.wa.gov). For the most current information and to check your status, contact the office of the Chelan County Assessor at (509) 667-6364.