Seven Basin school districts to run EP&O levies in February
Quincy High School band members march down the street during the 2025 Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day parade. Quincy is one of the schools with an educational programs and operations levy on the February ballot, and the levy helps pay some of the music program expenses.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Warden Middle School cross country runner Carlos Hernandez navigates the course during an October 2025 meet. Extracurricular activities like cross country are funded through the district’s educational programs and operations levy.
EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will be asked to accept or reject educational programs and operations levy proposals in a special election Feb. 10. Ephrata voters will decide on a construction bond in the Ephrata School District, and Warden district patrons will consider a proposal for technology improvements.
Votes must be postmarked by Feb. 10, and mailing them at the post office on Election Day doesn’t guarantee that, said Ben Rodwell, elections deputy with the Grant County Auditor’s Office.
“I would say (mail the ballot) at least a week early,” Rodwell said. “I wouldn’t recommend mailing it the day of the election.”
Voters in the Quincy, Warden, Othello, Coulee-Hartline, Wilson Creek, Royal and Wahluke school districts will vote on EP&O levies. School levies require approval from a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass. All levies, if they’re approved, would replace existing levies.
The Ephrata construction bond is a different kind of revenue measure, and as such, requires 60% approval to pass.
Levy money comes from local taxpayers and is subject to fewer restrictions than state or federal funding. As a result, it’s used to pay for programs that aren’t funded to the levels school board members and district administrators think are needed, or that aren’t funded at all.
Quincy voters will be considering a four-year proposal. If it’s approved, property owners would pay an estimated $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value all four years. If it’s approved, the levy is projected to generate about $10.7 million in 2027, $11 million in 2028, $11.3 million in 2029 and $11.7 million in 2030.
Warden School District voters are being asked to approve or reject a two-year levy. The levy assessment would be $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed value the first year and $2.45 per $1,000 of assessed value the second year. It’s projected to raise about $2.1 million in 2027 and $2.3 million in 2028.
Warden voters also will decide the fate of a two-year capital safety and technology levy. If it’s approved, property owners would be assessed 42 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value both years. The safety and technology levy is projected to generate about $377,600 in 2027 and about $396,000 in 2028.
Othello School District patrons will be voting on a four-year EP&O levy proposal. Property owners will be assessed about $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value each of the four years. The levy is projected to generate about $4.2 million in 2027, $4.6 million in 2028, $5 million in 2029 and about $5.5 million in 2030.
Coulee-Hartline School District officials have submitted a two-year EP&O levy to district voters. If it passes, property owners would be assessed 81 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027 and 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2028. If it passes, the levy is projected to generate $350,600 in both years.
Wilson Creek School District voters also will vote on a two-year levy. If it’s approved, property owners would be assessed $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value both years. It’s projected to generate $386,000 in 2027 and $397,500 in 2028.
The Royal School District is also proposing a two-year levy. Property owners would pay $1.63 per $1,000 of assessed value each year if it passes. It’s projected to generate about $2 million in 2027 and $2.1 million in 2028.
The levy proposal is for four years in the Wahluke School District. If the levy is approved, property owners would pay an estimated $2.50 per $1,0000 of assessed property value. If it’s approved, it will generate $3 million in 2027, $3.15 million in 2028, $3.3 million in 2029 and $3.47 million in 2030.
Ephrata School District’s $75 million construction bond proposal would pay for replacement and additions to Ephrata schools. The bond would have a 25-year payback provision.
Warden Middle School cross country runner Carlos Hernandez navigates the course during an October 2025 meet. Extracurricular activities like cross country are funded through the district’s educational programs and operations levy.