If approved, the replacement levy would fund student safety, smaller class sizes, special education, teachers, nursing, mental health support and sports/extracurricular activities

At its Nov. 24 regular meeting, Battle Ground’s Board of Directors approved a replacement educational programs and operations levy to appear on the ballot for an election on Feb. 10, 2026. Even after the district made budget cuts for the current school year, state and federal funding alone do not cover the rising costs to educate 13,000 students in 19 schools. 

If approved, district officials state that the replacement levy would fund student safety, smaller class sizes, special education, teachers, nursing, mental health support and sports/extracurricular activities. Every Battle Ground school would receive levy dollars.

The levy also would support programs that help give students skills and knowledge for today’s economy so that they leave school prepared for a wide range of options, including joining the workforce or military, getting a technical certification or going to college. Levy dollars help maintain the current level of career and technical education classes and programs, as well as classes that help students prepare if they are going to college. Levy funds also would be used to provide curricula that are up to date and address the knowledge and skills that students need to enter the workforce.

Starting in January 2026, Battle Ground Public Schools will be the only Southwest Washington school district without a local educational programs and operations levy. The current levy will expire at the end of December 2025. If a replacement is approved, tax collection would begin in 2027 and continue through 2030. All registered voters who live in the district are eligible to cast a ballot.

By law, the district cannot collect more than the approved amount each year. Property value increases and new residents do not generate more education and operations levy dollars for the district. An approved replacement levy would collect the following amounts:

• $43 million in 2027
• $45.80 million in 2028
• $48.77 million in 2029
• $51.94 million in 2030

If approved, the levy also would return some, but not all, of the student support positions and programs that were cut after the double levy failure earlier in 2025. The amount of restored positions and programs is dependent on rising operating costs and state funding gaps. 

How the amounts were set

In determining the amount, district leaders looked at student enrollment, state funding gaps, rising operating costs and unfunded mandates, lack of other funding sources and the district’s reserves/savings account.

• Student enrollment: Between the 2021-22 and 2024-25 school years, student enrollment increased from approximately 11,885 students to 13,080 students.
• State funding gaps: The gaps between state funding and what it actually costs to educate students have been widening in recent years. 
• Rising operating costs and unfunded mandates: These have contributed to an increase in the district’s expenses. As one example, beginning in the 2026-27 school year the district will be required to pay more than $2 million each year in state-mandated health and retirement benefits for contracted transportation staff. This mandate was not funded by the state.
• Lack of other funding sources: The district no longer has access to pandemic relief funds that offset the expiring levy during the pandemic. Those funds ended in 2024.
• District reserves/savings account: Battle Ground Public Schools is using $14.88 million of one-time money in its fund balance to sustain operations in the current school year. That money will not be available to use in future years.

Estimated rates

Estimated rates are provided so that property owners can calculate the potential tax impact. The actual rate will be affected by the amount of new construction in the district.

The owner of a home estimated at $625,000 in 2027 would pay an estimated $104 per month for the EP&O levy in the first year. Combined with the existing capital levy for building repairs and other projects, the combined local school tax rate would be an estimated $2.44 in 2027, one of the lowest property tax rates among all K-12 districts in Clark County. The current capital levy will expire at the end of 2027.

BGPS provides financial information on its website, during public school board meetings and in publicly available reports submitted to the state of Washington. In 2025, the district passed a financial audit by the state auditor’s office.

Community members may attend a public presentation on Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. in the Battle Ground High School media center (300 W. Main St., Battle Ground). 

Some seniors and homeowners who are disabled may be eligible for a property tax exemption. 

Learn more about the levy and calculate estimated taxes for a specific property.

Information provided by the Battle Ground School District. Clark County Today will provide independent coverage of this levy request prior to the February 10 special election.