Tacoma school levies on the ballot: TNT Editorial Board’s endorsement

Here in Washington, state education funding doesn’t stretch far enough. Like in many other school districts, Tacoma property owners help make up the difference with crucial property taxes, funding a range of expenses that make schools function.

Two levies that bring in these revenues expire this year, and voters in Tacoma will cast ballots in a special election this February for replacement levies.

The taxes pay for “keep the lights on” necessities like building maintenance; plumbing and heating; internet connectivity and, yes, lighting. It also includes extracurricular and after-school activities that give students a safe, enriching place to be while parents finish the workday.

It would be an understatement to call that list partial — there are a lot more expenses covered by these levies, which together pay for more than 17% of the school district’s budget day-to-day operations not covered by state funds.

Another understatement: these funds are vitally important for Tacoma’s public schools and the families they serve. We’re endorsing both Proposition 1 and 2.

We have reservations about the system that makes these propositions necessary, and this is not a full-throated endorsement of every current Tacoma Public Schools policy. We’re also sensitive to the pressures on Tacoma residents’ wallets, and understand the frustration of governments continually asking for more money. We’ll address that in a moment.

These propositions have no official opposition. As a result, there’s no convincing counter-argument on offer against continuing this fundamental funding stream for Tacoma schools.

Funds from these levies may go beyond the state’s bare-bones duty to fund education, but the programs, staff and daily operations costs they pay for are essential.

Funding public education in Tacoma

This is a replacement levy, but it also increases the total you’ll pay in school levies.

The first levy on the ballot, Prop. 1, would be assessed at about $2.23 per $1,000 of property value, according to Tacoma Public Schools chief financial officer Rosalind Medina. There’s a cap on how much total revenue the levy can bring in, which goes up each year. This limit starts at just over $127 million in 2027 and ends at nearly $143 million in 2030. By comparison, the current levy caps total revenue at $82 million in 2026.

Medina said the additional cost to property owners would average $36 more per month.

The second levy pays for technology costs. Medina said the tax would be assessed on about $0.79 per $1,000 of property value, and it would bring in $42.5 million each year. It funds computer replacements, internet upgrades, online portals for students and parents, and other technology needs.

Medina estimated the new levy would raise the average monthly payment for Tacomans to $11.45 more than it currently is. Added to the first levy, it’s an additional $47.45 in property taxes per month.

Here’s why you keep having to vote on this

You may feel like local governments are always asking you for money, and that’s true. But here’s the reason, at least in this case: levies expire.

As recent history shows, you probably wouldn’t have it any other way. Last April, voters rejected a replacement levy from the City of Tacoma that would have made property taxes for road improvement projects permanent.

Replacement levies give us the chance to weigh in on local property taxes every two to six years. As a side effect, we voters often find ourselves weighing the long-term benefit of funding essential services like education against how we’re feeling about our budgets when election time comes around.

But seeking out funding beyond what the state offers isn’t optional, Garcia said.

“In Washington State,” he said, “school districts have to run levies to have enough funding for basic operations.”

We’d like a more robust conversation on how things got this way, and what alternatives would look like. With that said, we don’t think we’re going to push the massive question of state tax reform closer to the goal by shooting down essential funding for Tacoma’s public school students.

The News Tribune Editorial Board is: Laura Hautala, opinion editor; Stephanie Pedersen, TNT president and editor; Justin Evans, community representative; Bart Hayes, community representative. Jim Walton, community representative, has recused himself from this endorsement because he has already advocated for the propositions.

This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.