The Pasco School Board of Directors voted unanimously at its regularly scheduled meeting to direct district staff to prepare a replacement four‑year EP&O levy resolution for consideration at the Nov. 12, 2025 regular board meeting.

The levy proposal presented to the board would replace the current EP&O levy that expires at the end of calendar year 2026 and is designed to fund programs and costs not provided by the state, including athletics, visual and performing arts, extracurriculars, counseling and nursing positions, facility maintenance and certain classified and certified positions. District staff framed the request as an effort to "pick up from where we will leave off in the current levy" rather than to increase taxes significantly.

Dr. Castilleja, the district staff member who led the levy presentation, outlined the financial design staff recommended: projected levy authorizations of about $35.5 million in 2027 rising to $41.74 million by 2030 under a four‑year plan and a working EP&O rate projected to be about $2.16 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027 (the presentation said the district would "pick that up" at roughly $2.16 per $1,000 and hold that level through 2030 under the scenario shown). Using staff's example, a home assessed at $400,000 would pay about $864 per year at $2.16 per $1,000 of assessed value; staff said a 10¢ rate increase would change that annual amount by roughly $40.

Board members asked about term length; staff recommended a four‑year replacement to provide planning stability and noted the district has a history of running four‑year levies. The presenter said the recommendation used conservative assessed‑value growth assumptions (4–6 percent), acknowledging assessed value growth is a material factor in the tax rate calculation. Staff also compared Pasco's plan to other regional districts, noting different districts were planning different rates and separate technology levies.

The board then voted to "direct staff to prepare a replacement levy resolution for the 11/12/2025 regular board meeting, setting the amount as presented" for a four‑year term; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote without opposition.

Next steps identified by staff: the board will receive the full resolution and the committee appointment recommendations for pro and con statements at the Nov. 12 meeting; the district plans to file the levy with the county before Dec. 12; staff said Election Day for the levy would be Feb. 10 (the presentation indicated that date for the election cycle discussed).