Levy = Learning   Bond = Building

The easiest way to remember the difference between a bond and a levy is: Bonds are for building and levies are for learning. Bonds and levies provide schools with funds that must be used for specific purposes. 
A Levy is a local property tax passed by the voters of a school district that generates revenue to fund programs and services that the state does not pay for as part of “basic education.”

A Bond is a long-term investment that authorizes the district to purchase property for schools, construct new schools, or modernize existing schools. Bonds are sold to investors who are repaid with interest over time from property tax collections, generally between 12-20 years. 

The current voter-approved levy is expiring. The proposed February 2026 levy will replace it, extending support through 2030. This levy funds critical areas that the state does not fully fund, including:

• Safety and Security Staff/Security System Updates at Every School
• Camera Systems/Cybersecurity Education and Software
• Gang Awareness and Prevention Education

• Athletics and Extracurricular/Clubs and Activities Arts, Music and Enrichment Programs

• Classroom Materials and Curriculum

• Transportation

• Maintenance and Custodial Services/Utilities & Insurance

• Food Service for Students

• Teachers & Substitutes

• Paraeducators and Classroom Support

• School nurses and Other Specialists

• Counselors and Student Mental Health Supports

The community support ensures these programs and services continue to benefit our students throughout the community.

Both levies and bonds require voter approval, but in Washington bonds require a higher majority of voter approval than levies.

• Bonds require a supermajority to pass (60%).  
• Levies require a simple majority to pass (50% + 1).

Schools rely on levies for important things that aren't covered by other funding. This includes extracurricular activities, safety and security enhancements, prevention programs, building maintenance & technology infrastructure, staffing paras and teachers.  Levies ensure these essential resources remain available to support students and the community.

Yes!  Washington State law provides two tax benefit programs for senior citizens and individuals who are disabled: property tax exemptions and property tax deferrals. For more information on qualifications, please contact your local county assessor's office.

No, levies are not a permanent tax. They are approved for a set number of years, and voters must renew them to keep them in place. At the Grandview School District, levies are typically renewed every four years. The current levy is set to expire in December 2026. Please vote on February 10, 2026. 

This is not a new tax. The previous levy was at $1.64 per $1,000 assessed value.

The current request is estimated at $1.65 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027. See the future estimates below.

$1.67 in 2028

$1.69 in 2029

$1.71 in 2030 

*Example, see below: Home valued at $300,000 dollars.

$300,000 ÷ 1,000 × 1.65 ÷ 12 months = $41.25 per month for the owner of a $300,000 home in Grandview.

If a levy fails, it can result in cuts to essential programs and resources, directly affecting students' education. These cuts can impact class size, extracurricular activities, safety/security measures, and other vital services that support student success. Adjusting without levy funds would mean fewer opportunities for students.

Also if the levy fails, we lose out on an estimated $5 million dollar per year matching funds. This will roughtly total $22.2 millon dollars in matching funds over the course of 4 years. 

The anticipated cuts would be the levy amount which $3.3 million the first year, plus the $5 million in LEA (matching) funds, equating to a reduction in $8.3 million.