Local voters last approved the district’s educational programs and operations levy in November 2021. The current levy replaced the previous levy that expired at the end of 2021 and continues to fund essential student programs and services at a lower projected tax rate.
The four-year levy will collect the following amounts:
$26,750,000 in 2022
$28,200,000 in 2023
$29,650,000 in 2024
$31,100,000 in 2025
The total amount collected cannot increase over the four-year period.
The impact on individual property owners will depend on the increase or decrease in assessed values and the amount of growth in the area.
Levy dollars make up the difference between what the state provides for basic K-12 education and what it actually costs to provide students with options that prepare them for today’s careers.
The levy funds essential student programs and services:
Technology
Teachers, support and administrative staffing
Social and emotional learning and support
Building maintenance
Elective and Advanced Placement classes
Textbooks and curricula
Arts, athletics and after-school activities
Special education services
Security and communications
Levy dollars are pooled with state funds to pay for programs and services that provide opportunities beyond basic education. The levy enables the district to supply technology to students, offer a variety of electives, maintain facilities and provide staff that enhance learning experiences and coach athletics and activities.
Much of what the levy pays for is people. People are key to providing a quality education and getting students the support they need in both academics and social-emotional learning. Battle Ground’s levy provides an additional 260 positions above what the state funds.
This chart shows examples of the number of positions that the state funds versus the number of positions that the local levy funds. It is not inclusive of all levy-funded positions.
Position | State funds | Levy funds |
|---|---|---|
Nurses ensure student's medical needs are met during the school day. | 1.71 | 9.65 |
Psychologists help students perform better academically by providing counseling and special education services. | 0.34 | 16.66 |
Additional certificated staff help keep class sizes small. | 501.5 | 20.4 |
Students have said they feel safer knowing security personnel monitor their campus. | 2.04 | 5.66 |
Technical services staff run software and network systems, support students and train staff on technology. | 6.15 | 9.05 |
Teaching assistants support students in class, at recess, at lunch, before school and at release time. | 19 | 31.5 |
Assistant principals help in areas of positive behavior, attendance and staff support. | 30.65 | 8.35 |
Athletic coaches and advisers supervise student sports and activities outside the classroom. | 0 | 178* |
Counselors support students' social and emotional well-being. | 21.15 | 2.85 |
*Number of staff contracts that support athletics, clubs and after-school activities.
Battle Ground has one of the lowest tax rates of all K-12 districts in Clark County.
