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Replacement EP&O Levy

Replacement EP & O Levy graphic

On November 4, Kiona-Benton City School District will place a replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy on the ballot. This levy would renew the current two-year levy that voters approved in February 2023 and is set to expire at the end of 2025. The proposed tax rate would remain the same as the current rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

 

Levies are voted on by local voters and provide funding for educational programs and services that are not fully funded by the state. If approved, the Ki-Be replacement levy would continue funding for:

  • Athletics and extracurricular activities

  • Music, band, and the arts

  • Advanced courses and smaller class sizes

  • Counselors, nurses, and safety staff

  • Technology support and student devices

  • Special education services

All levy dollars would remain local and be used to support Ki-Be students.

 

What Will the Levy Fund?

What will the EP&O Levy Fund Teachers at 25.99%, Athletics at 21.97%, Classroom Support Staff at 21.79%, Maintenance and Operations at 9.7%, Safety at 8.38%, Classroom Tech at 6.23% and Admin Support STaff at 5.93%.

Activity - 2026 Tax Year Amount Percentage
Teachers (e.g. Music, Art, Weights) $615,469 25.99%
Athletics, School Trips & Advisors $520,220 21.97%

Classroom, Building & Program Support Staff
(e.g. Nurses & Counselors)

 $515,934 21.79%
Facilities, Maintenance & Operations $229,750 9.70%
School Safety & Security $198,333 8.38%
Classroom Technology $147,601 6.23%
Admin Support Staff
(e.g. Athletic Directors, ASB Bookkeeper)		 $140,359 5.93%
Total $2,367,666 100%

 

 

What’s on the line...

This is the second time Kiona-Benton City School District will bring this replacement levy to voters in 2025. When the measure did not pass in February, the district was required to create its 2025–26 budget without the guarantee of levy funding.

Because the current levy ends in December 2025 (mid-school year), the district reduced its budget for this year by $1.5 million. Those reductions included:

  • No extracurricular bussing
  • Elimination of one secondary administrator, one high school counselor, one elementary counselor, one nurse, and three teaching positions
  • Elimination of C-Squad athletic teams
  • Freezing administrator salaries
  • Freezing curriculum adoptions
  • Not rehiring the high school art position after a retirement

If the replacement levy does not pass in November, the district would need to reduce the budget by an additional $1 million. This would likely mean:

  • Significant cuts to athletics (most, if not all sports)
  • Elimination of high school elective courses, including band, choir, and leadership
  • Elimination of middle school electives such as STEM, robotics, and PE
  • Reduced PE, art, STEM, and computer instruction at the elementary level

2025 Levy Fast Facts

Levy Fast Facts

  • Kiona-Benton City School District has a two-year replacement EP&O levy planned for the Nov. 4 ballot.
  • A levy is a locally-approved tax based on property values.
  • Total Levy Collection Amount:
    • 2026 = $2,367,666
    • 2027 = $2,545,241
  • Proposed Levy Tax Rate = $1.50 per $1,000 assessed property value (collected in 2026 and 2027).
  • Projected tax rates are based on the total assessed property value of the entire district.
  • School tax rates for Benton City have been on a steady decline since 2017.
  • The levy pays for educational programs not fully funded by the state, including athletics, music, technology support, special education, smaller class sizes, nurses, counselors, safety staff, advanced courses, and extracurricular activities.
  • Local dollars stay local. Levies are the only locally approved ballot measures that directly pay for the extracurricular, classroom, and educational needs that state dollars do not fund.
  • Residents 61 years of age or older, or individuals who have a disability may qualify for a tax exemption. Make sure to contact the Benton County Assessor’s Office for more info at 509-735-2394 or visit here for more information.
  • Are you registered to vote? You can register in-person or online at VoteWA
  • Ballots are mailed about three weeks prior to election day

 

 

Tax Impact

The State Schools Tax listed for 2024-25 is estimated based on the current projected rate. Rates shown are per $1,000 of assessed property value.

  • The estimated tax rate for the EP&O Levy is $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Ki-Be Tax Rates per $1,000 (with State School Tax)

Kiona-Benton City School District Projected 2025-2026 Operating Budget Funding Sources

Funding Source Amount Percent
State School Tax $19,588,891.00 86.72%
Local Dollars $942,974.00 4.17%
Federal Dollars $2,057,644.00 9.11%
Total $22,589,509.00 100.00%