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Kennewick School District begins preliminary planning for 2026 levy renewals
Summary
District staff outlined early options for renewing the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) and technology levies set to expire in 2026, warned of shrinking state Local Effort Assistance as assessed valuation rises, and asked the board for data and direction on timing, length and amount of any future ballot measures.
Dr. Pierce, district staff, told the Kennewick School District Board of Directors at a study session that the district is beginning preliminary planning for two levy renewals — the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy and the technology levy — that expire in 2026. "Tonight is a very early preliminary discussion, just to kind of plant some seeds," she said.
The presentation reviewed why the district relies on levies, what the 2023 EP&O and technology levies currently fund, and options for the next levy cycle. Dr. Pierce said the district asked voters in February 2023 for a three-year EP&O levy that collects $23 million in year one, $23.85 million in year two and $24.7 million in collection year 2026. Combined with Local Effort Assistance (LEA), she said the district told voters it would use about $38.2 million to fund safety, students and staff, operations and extracurriculars.
Dr. Pierce outlined how assessed valuation affects both tax rates and LEA: a higher total assessed valuation lowers a district—s tax rate but also reduces state LEA payments. She said the district—s actual tax…
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