Next year, both our Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy and our Technology Capital Levy expire. These levies are on a four year cycle and are critical funding for our district. Voters have renewed the EP&O Levy every four years for decades, and they’ve renewed the Technology Capital Levy every four years since it was first put before voters in 2014. Pending School Board approval, both of these levies are expected to be on the ballot in 2026.
The EP&O Levy basically pays for everything the state doesn’t fully fund when it comes to basic education. The state’s funding model has been outdated for some time, and all districts require more money than the state provides to support students. About 98% of our EP&O Levy pays for salaries and benefits for positions the state underfunds.
While the state allows districts to collect $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value when it comes to EP&O levies, Bethel is currently only collecting $1.85.
Our Technology Capital Levy also supports staff, including tech support and some of our Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs). But the bulk of it goes towards infrastructure and instructional devices for students.
Thanks to the Technology Capital Levy, each student in our district has access to an iPad, educational software, and classroom audio/visual equipment to help make learning accessible and engaging.
But without good infrastructure, those iPads wouldn’t be very useful. The Technology Capital Levy also pays for our internet and wireless (WiFi) systems, our data center and servers, hardware, software, mobile hotspots, and the critically important, internet security.
Keeping kids safe is our top priority. Did you know that Bethel is one of the only districts in Washington to have implemented two-factor authentication for all of our students and staff? Along with teaching good digital citizenship, that’s one way we are working hard to keep kids safe online.
Our Technology Capital Levy costs taxpayers $0.26 per $1,000 of assessed value. Thank you, voters!
The School Board is working hard to ensure that our voters are informed about both of our levies because of their impact on local voters. That’s why they are having regular study sessions about our levies, as well as future bond possibilities.
You can watch the Board’s March 25, 2025 Study Session to learn more about all of those topics and more.
Check out https://pcsc.bethelsd.org/ for more News & Events happening at Pierce County Skills Center.