Levy Cap Promise - Financial Parameter...
For nearly fifty years, CVSD has asked our community to support levies. Educational programs and operations (EP&O) levies are financed by property taxes and have been run on election ballots for voter consideration about every three years. In a nutshell, EP&O enrichment levies are intended to fill the gap in funding between what federal and state agencies provide and actual operating costs, including maintaining personnel and programs supporting student learning and extra curriculars.
Washington state law currently caps EP&O levy collection at a rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This means that when a district puts forward a levy dollar amount to voters, which in CVSD’s case is separated over three subsequent years, it is collected within that maximum rate threshold or less. This is why you will see the CVSD proposed replacement levy on the ballot as $48.9 million in the first year, $50.5 million in the second year, and $52.4 million in the third year. The Spokane County assessor’s office analyzes property values in CVSD and establishes a rate per $1,000 of assessed property value that is needed to collect the corresponding amount for that year.
When running a levy proposition, the district tries to project future rates for the public’s consideration. However, the ultimate, actual rate of collection can vary based on the market and property value fluctuation over that same period, while never going beyond the $2.50/$1,000 ceiling. So, for example, even if property values were such that the rate would need to be $2.51/$1,000 in order to meet the requested levy dollar amount, the district would be capped at the legal $2.50/$1,000 rate limit and experience a lower collection amount than voters approved for that year. Due to recent stagnant or decreasing property values and growth, the current levy rate per $1,000 of assessed value is higher than initially projected, but is capped at $2.50/$1,000.
The state has changed the levy cap numerous times over the years and can easily change it again. Many districts in Washington are seeing stagnant or decreasing property values, and legislators may change the levy cap to a higher amount per $1,000 to allow full levy sums to be collected.
As the School Board discussed the current EP&O levy and the levy replacement details, it became clear that the Board needed to place maximum taxing guardrails in the form of a promise to our citizens. Legal counsel was sought to create an official resolution to ensure this was in line with all school district levy and financial laws, as well as Resolution 26-13, which authorized the EP&O replacement levy to be placed on the ballot this November. The CVSD School Board wants to assure taxpayers that we will hold to a maximum collection rate, even if it means we do not collect the full levy amount.
On September 14, 2026, the School Board approved Resolution 26-15. This resolution establishes a parameter to guide the Board in certifying the annual EP&O replacement levy collections. Despite what may change in the law for levy caps, the CVSD School Board promises that we will not increase collections beyond $2.50/$1,000 of assessed property value, which is the current levy collections rate.
Every fall, the School Board will certify the replacement levy collection for the following year. In regard to this Board’s promise, we will work with the Spokane County assessor’s office to calculate what $2.50/$1,000 of assessed property value equates to for the entire levy collection for each year. We will then certify the levy collections for that amount, even if it is lower than what was approved to be collected by voters. For example, in year one, regardless of legal changes in rate, should the assessor’s office state that $2.50/$1,000 equates to $47 million, we will authorize $47 million to be collected instead of the proposed $48.9 million.
Our School Board understands the importance of partnering with our community to fully fund our schools, but also understands that times are hard. The hope is that holding a predictable rate will enable that partnership to flourish with continued trust and transparency.
Pam Orebaugh
2026 School Board Legislative Representative
For more info about the levy, go to www.cvsd.org/Levy
Go to www.cvsd.org/BoardBulletins for more Board Bulletins.