Everett voters did not hedge in the Feb. 10 special election, signing off on a nearly $397 million construction bond and renewing the district's education levy in a double win for local schools and a modest hit to local tax bills. Together, the measures will lift the district's combined local schools tax rate to about $3.95 per $1,000 of assessed value, with money aimed at adding permanent classrooms, modernizing career and technical education spaces and replacing scores of portable classrooms. District officials say the package is designed to balance long-term building needs with day-to-day staffing and programs that state funding does not fully cover.
How the votes broke down
Preliminary returns showed Proposition 1, the school construction bond, pulling in about 63.8% support, while Proposition 2, the education-levy renewal, landed roughly 64.4% approval, according to My Everett News. The bond cleared the 60% supermajority threshold required for passage, and the levy easily surpassed the simple majority it needed to continue.
What the bond will pay for
The bond will issue $396,849,890, funding a new elementary school, the replacement of Lowell Elementary, a rebuilt library and cafeteria at Cascade High along with a new CTE building, renovation of the vocational building at Everett High and twelve additional elementary classrooms. It also covers districtwide safety and security projects, HVAC and roofing upgrades, improvements to fields and playgrounds and the replacement of many of the district's 103 elementary portables, according to Everett Public Schools. District leaders say the work is meant to cut down on reliance on temporary classrooms and to improve accessibility and safety across campuses.
Levy details and schedule
The renewed education levy will continue to support teachers, custodians, health-room staff and enrichment programs such as STEM and Advanced Placement, with projected levy rates of $2.14 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027 rising to $2.31 per $1,000 in 2030. Estimated levy collections are projected at $82.5 million in 2027 and $98 million in 2030, according to local reporting by My Everett News. District officials say the renewal maintains staff and programs that would not be fully funded through state dollars alone.
What it means for taxpayers
Combined, the bond and levy move the local school tax rate from about $3.65 to roughly $3.95 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $600,000, that pencils out to an increase of about $180 a year, or around $15 a month. The outcome lines up with a broader pattern on Feb. 10, when many Snohomish County voters backed school funding measures, signaling local support for continued investment in facilities and programs, according to HeraldNet. District officials say the levy schedule and bond repayment plan are structured to keep the combined tax rate relatively steady over time.
Next steps for the district
With voter approval in hand, Everett Public Schools plans to move into design, permitting and contractor selection for its priority projects and will share timelines, renderings and community updates on its bond and levy web page, according to Everett Public Schools. Project schedules will hinge on planning and market conditions, and the district says community oversight and regular public reporting will guide how bond dollars are spent. Residents can expect phased work to roll out over the coming months as the district shifts from planning to construction on its voter-backed upgrades.
