Washougal school levies passing

The Washougal School District’s (WSD) two replacement levies are passing.

According to initial election results released by Clark County on Feb. 11, WSD’s educational programs and operations (EPO) levy earned 54.68 percent of votes, while the district’s technology levy garnered 58.12 percent of votes cast in Clark County. The EPO levy would collect about $7.4 million in 2021, $8 million in 2022 and $8.6 million in 2023. The technology levy would raise $845,000 in 2021, $870,000 in 2022 and $898,000 in 2023.

“Things are looking good, and we’re excited about where we stand at this moment and time,” WSD Superintendent Mary Templeton said moments after the voting results were released. “We’re optimistic that the community is supporting the excellent work of the Washougal School District in both levies. They give us the chance to innovate and continue to rise to the top, and we’re excited about that trajectory.”

The WSD board of directors voted in November 2019 to place the replacement levies on Clark County’s February special elections ballot. If approved, they will replace the district’s current levies, which expire on Dec. 31.

The EPO levy funds health and safety programs, instructional support, athletics and activities, student learning and staffing, and operations and maintenance for the school district. The technology levy funds the district’s initiative to supply at least one device to every student, up-to-date computers, classroom instructional technology, professional development and coaching, technology infrastructure and staffing, and curriculum and software.

Combined, the replacement levies would cost the owner of an average Washougal home (valued at $325,000) about $777 a year, or roughly $66 per month, according to WSD. Templeton said the difference between the 2020 levy rates and the proposed 2021 rates is about 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $55 more per year.