On July 16, 2026 the Battleground School District superintendent, Shelly Whitten, presented a $116,830,000 operating levy to the district’s board of directors. The board voted unanimously to place the levy on the November 2026 ballot.
Levy details and tax impact
The levy would run for three years, replacing the previous four‑year operating levy. It is estimated to increase property taxes by about 4.5 % each year. The district provides a simple formula for homeowners: assessed value divided by 1,000, multiplied by $1.76. For a home assessed at $650,000 the annual tax would be roughly $1,144 ($95.33 per month); a $1 million assessment would generate about $1,760 per year ($146.66 per month).
Comparison with past levies
The last successful operating levy, approved in November 2021, collected $115.7 million over four years – an average of $28.9 million per year. Two failed levies in 2025 each sought $166.3 million, and a February 2026 levy asked for $189.5 million, averaging $47.4 million per year. By contrast, the proposed 2026‑2029 levy would average $38.8 million per year, providing modest additional funding beyond the prior failed attempts.
Mandated costs and funding gaps
Superintendent Whitten estimates that state‑mandated programs require $21.9 million to $26.9 million annually, most of which must be funded locally. About $500,000 of that amount is a one‑time expense; the remainder is recurring. Because the district’s last operating levy ended in 2025, there is a one‑year funding gap before the new levy takes effect in 2027. The district plans to cover the shortfall by using reserves and reducing non‑mandatory enrichment programs.
Questions for voters
Residents are being asked to consider whether the levy’s promised benefits—student safety measures, smaller class sizes, expanded special‑education services, reading and math support, and extracurricular activities—justify the added tax burden. Voters are also weighing the broader issue of unfunded state mandates, which some argue could be addressed by a statewide solution similar to Washington’s McCleary decision.
What’s at stake
If the levy fails, the district will need to explore alternative financing, potentially including borrowing or further cuts to programs not required by state law. The outcome will also influence the ongoing debate about how much funding responsibility should rest with local taxpayers versus the state.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
