Three school districts in Lewis County, including two that had measures fail on the February ballot, will have levy renewal proposals on the upcoming April 22 special election ballot.
Additionally, Lewis County Fire District 4 in Morton will ask its constituents to approve up to $3 million in bonds to build a new fire station.
Ballots will be mailed to voters on April 2, with ballots expected to begin arriving in mailboxes by April 5, according to the Lewis County Auditor’s office.
Ballots must be postmarked by April 22 or returned to a Lewis County ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election night.
A stamp is not necessary, as all ballot return envelopes include prepaid postage, according to the Lewis County Auditor’s Office.
Only voters within the boundaries of a district with a measure on the ballot will receive a ballot for this election.
More information on each measure and the election can be found online at https://elections.lewiscountywa.gov/current-election/.
Mossyrock School District Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy
This is the district’s first attempt to pass a replacement for its existing levy, which expires at the end of 2025.
If passed, the measure would replace the expiring levy with a new three-year levy that would allow the district to collect up to $1,475,686 in 2026, $1,647,682 in 2027 and $1,741,495 in 2028. The estimated levy rate would be $1.27 per $1,000 of assessed value for all three years.
The levy would be used to cover expenses of educational programs and operations that are not fully funded by the state, such as teaching, school supplies, athletics, field trips, special education programs, student technology and curriculum materials, facility maintenance and other non-capital expenses necessary for the district to operate.
Onalaska School District Educational Programs and Operation Replacement Levy
This is the district’s second attempt to pass a replacement for its existing levy, which expires at the end of 2025.
If passed, the measure would replace the expiring levy with a new three-year levy that would allow the district to collect up to $1,891,440 in property taxes in 2026, $1,948,184 in 2027 and $2,006,629 in 2028. The estimated levy rate would be $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value for all three years.
The levy would be used to fund Onalaska School District education programs and operations that are not fully funded by the state, such as athletics and activities, health and counseling services, student transportation costs, technology staffing, equipment improvements, staff professional development and training, special education costs, utilities maintenance, preschool programs, and enhanced security measures.
The Onalaska School District is asking voters the same amount it did on the February 2025 special election ballot. That measure failed with 715 (47.92%) votes in favor and 777 (52.08%) votes opposed.
Winlock School District Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy
This is the district’s second attempt to pass a replacement for its existing levy, which expires at the end of 2025.
If passed, the measure would replace the expiring three-year levy with a new two-year levy that would allow the district to collect up to $1,480,000 in property taxes in 2026 and up to $1,682,000 in 2027. The estimated levy rate would be $1.12 per $1,000 of assessed value for both years.
The levy would be used to fund Winlock School District education programs and operation expenses that are not fully covered by the state, such as extracurricular programs, special education, staffing costs, classroom technology, academic and behavioral support, student safety and security, and general maintenance and equipment costs.
The Winlock School District is asking voters for a lesser amount than it did on the February 2025 special election ballot.
That measure, which failed in February with 570 votes (47.54%) in favor and 629 (52.46%) opposed, would have set the estimated new levy rate at $1.27 per $1,000 of assessed value for three years, with the district asking voters to allow it to collect up to $1,680,000 in property taxes in 2026, $1,900,00 in 2027 and $2,100,000 in 2028.
Lewis County Fire Protection District No. 4 Bonds to Construct New Fire Station
The Morton-based fire district is asking voters to approve up to $3 million in 20-year bonds to fund the construction of a new fire station.
“The inadequate size and aging and outdated facilities of the District’s existing fire station, and the need to improve community, firefighter and emergency responder safety, require the District to provide firefighting and emergency response facilities for the protection of the public health, life and property by constructing a new fire station sized to meet the community’s current and future firefighting needs,” District 4 states in the resolution.
