Capital Levy Information

As community volunteers, we're encouraging our neighbors to learn about and consider Monroe School District's proposed four-year, $49 million Capital Projects Levy, which will appear on the November 2026 ballot.

If approved by voters, the levy would provide local funding for priority safety and security upgrades, major maintenance projects, facility improvements, and the relocation of Sky Valley Education Center to an updated Wagner Center site. According to the district, these projects are intended to address some of the district's most pressing facility needs.

Many people are surprised to learn that Washington state does not fully fund the construction of new schools, major building repairs, or many facility improvement projects. Instead, school districts often rely on local, voter-approved funding to address these needs.

What Changed?

This proposal is different from the $152 million, 20-year construction bond that voters did not approve in February 2026. Following that election, the district gathered community feedback to better understand voters' priorities. Through surveys and additional input, community members expressed support for a shorter tax commitment, a phased approach to facility improvements, and a greater focus on the district's highest-priority facility needs.

In response, the district developed a more focused proposal that would provide approximately $49 million in local funding over four years. The proposed levy replaces the previous 20-year bond proposal with a smaller, phased plan centered on priority safety, maintenance, and facility improvement projects.

As community volunteers, our goal is to help voters understand what's being proposed so everyone can make an informed decision when they cast their ballot this November.

What Does It Fund?

The proposed Capital Projects Levy focuses on four key investment areas designed to address some of Monroe School District's most pressing facility needs.

Safety & Security

The proposal includes improvements that help create safer school environments, including:

Secure entrance vestibules
Fire and security system upgrades
Accessibility improvements

Major Maintenance

The levy would help address critical maintenance projects across the district, including:

Roof replacements
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades
Boiler replacements
Infrastructure repairs

Relocation of Sky Valley Education Center

A significant portion of the proposed levy would support relocating Sky Valley Education Center (SVEC) from its current campus to an updated Wagner Center site.

According to the district, the existing SVEC campus faces significant infrastructure challenges, including aging building systems and ongoing environmental mitigation related to asbestos, PCBs, and lead-containing materials.

The proposed Wagner Center project would preserve historic elements of the original building while creating a smaller, right-sized facility designed to better meet the current and future needs of Sky Valley Education Center. The district also anticipates that the updated facility would reduce long-term operating and maintenance costs.

Facility Improvements

The proposal also includes facility improvements that support student programs, improve energy efficiency, and help provide safe, functional learning environments for students and staff.

As community volunteers, our goal is to help voters understand what is included in the proposed levy so they can make an informed decision when voting this November.

What Does It Cost?

The proposed four-year Capital Projects Levy would generate approximately $49 million in local funding to support priority safety improvements, major maintenance projects, and facility upgrades throughout Monroe School District.

According to the district, the levy is estimated to cost property owners an average of $0.88 per $1,000 of assessed property value over the four-year collection period. The annual levy rate is projected to decrease over time as assessed property values increase.