Seattle Schools Education Levies

Voter-Approved Education Levies Support Seattle Students

The money we collect from local, voter-approved school levies stays in Seattle. We use these funds to provide the quality of education that our students and families expect and to ensure our students have safe, welcoming schools that support student success.

Why Do School Districts Ask for Local Levy Funding?

School districts rely on voter-approved levies to bridge the gap between what the state funds and what it costs to support our students.

Planning for the February 2025 Levies

At its regular meeting on November 19, 2024, the School Board will be voting on resolutions that would place two levies on the ballot in February 2025. Both replace levies that expire in 2025. 

Seeking Community Members for Voter Pamphlet Statement Committees

As required by state law, the district must appoint committees to prepare written statements in support of and in opposition to each levy. These statements will appear in the King County voters’ pamphlet. Each committee is limited by law to three members, although committees may seek the advice of others. Read more and apply to participate.

Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy

The three-year Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O) would replace the expiring EP&O, which was approved by Seattle voters in 2022. 

This levy is placed on the ballot every three years. We use these levy funds to provide the quality of education that our students and families expect. This includes hiring more nurses, custodians, and other staff beyond what the state pays for, and it includes additional funding for services such as special education and child nutrition.

Capital Levy — BEX VI

The six-year Building Excellence VI Capital Levy (BEX VI) would replace the expiring Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V), which was approved by Seattle voters in 2019. 

Capital levies are the primary funding source for school construction. Technology used by students, teachers, school staff, and administrators, and for district operations is also primarily funded by capital levies.

Capital levies are local education property taxes. Every three years, the district asks voters to approve renewal of one of the six-year capital levies: Building Excellence (BEX) or Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics (BTA). The next capital levy will be our sixth BEX levy, therefore it will be BEX VI.

Report on Recent Capital Levies

We want you to know how we are delivering on the promises made in each of our recent capital levies. This report covers the building construction and improvement projects completed, in progress, or scheduled through December 2023. These projects were funded by the Building Excellence (BEX) V Capital Levy and the Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics (BTA) V Capital Levy.

Recent Voter-Approved Levies

2022

• Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O);
• Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics V Capital Levy (BTA V)

2019

• Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O);
• Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V)

2016:

• Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O);
• Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics IV Capital Levy (BTA IV)

2013:

• Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O);
• Building Excellence IV Capital Levy (BEX IV)

Contact

Questions about the levies? Use our Let’s Talk form.