Kiona-Benton City School District

Replacement EP&O Levy

Ki-Be EP&O Levy - Vote Feb. 11

Kiona-Benton City School District is proposing a replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy to place on the Feb. 11, 2025 Special Election. This levy will replace our current two-year levy, which local voters approved in February 2023 and is up for renewal at the end of 2025. The proposed levy tax rate is the same amount residents are currently paying ($1.50).

Levies are locally approved measures used to support local students and pay for programs not fully funded by the state. If approved on Feb. 11, the Ki-Be replacement levy will help pay for:

Athletics
Advanced courses
Counselors
Extracurricular activities
Music and the arts
Nurses
Safety staff
Special education
Smaller class sizes
Technology support

What Will the Levy Fund?

Pie chart of what the EP&O levy will fund in the 2026 Tax Year as described in text

Activity - 2026 Tax Year	Amount	Percentage
School Safety & Security/Student Supervision	$198,333.00	8.38%
Teachers (e.g. Music, Art, Weights)	$615,469.00	25.99%
Athletics/School Trips/Advisors	$520,220.00	21.97%
Classroom Technology	$147,601.00	6.23%
Classroom, Building, & Program Support Staff (e.g. Nurses, Counselors)	$515,934.00	21.79%
Facilities/Maintenance & Operations	$229,750.00	9.70%
Admin Support Staff (e.g. Athletic Directors, ASB Bookkeeper)	$140,359.00	5.93%
Total	$2,367,666	100%

2025 Levy Quick Facts

Kiona-Benton City School District has a two-year replacement EP&O levy on the Feb. 11, 2025 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
- The last day to register online is Feb. 3, 2025 or in person is Feb. 11, 2025
Ballots are mailed about three weeks prior to election day
Look for your ballots in the mail after Jan. 24, 2025

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.

Stacked column chart showing tax rates per $1,000 with state schools tax as described in text