Ack! I just got my property assessment, this means the amount of money I pay for the levy is going to jump through the roof too! Right?
Not so fast! You need to understand how the levy actually works. The school district calculated a set dollar amount needed to keep our three schools running with proper staffing, technology, safety, transportation, and student activities — things the state does not include in its narrow definition of “basic education.”
The HSD board determined the district will need approximately $6.1 million in 2027, $6.4 million in 2028, $6.7 million in 2029, and $7.0 million in 2030 to continue operating at a level that fully supports our students. The amount each homeowner pays is based on the assessed value of their home, and from this, the replacement levy rate was calculated on a declining scale starting at $1.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Now, imagine it’s 2026 and your home’s assessed value skyrocketed. Sounds like you might pay more into the levy, right?
Wrong. The levy’s total dollar “ask” remains fixed over the four-year period. This means your rate per $1,000 of assessed value could actually go down, even if your home’s value rises, because the total levy amount the district collects doesn’t change. It’s still the same four-year total.
For context, the 2022 EP&O Levy rate was $1.89 per $1,000, the second-lowest in Clark County. Hockinson could have collected more, but chose to honor a lower rate.
Monthly Cost to Homeowners: (Assessed home value)÷ 1000 x 1.89 ÷ 12 = monthly cost in 2027
If the proposed levy is approved, the estimated local school tax cost for the owner of a $800,000 home in Hockinson is about $35 less per month in 2027 compared to 2025. This is because the payment on the Hockinson Middle School bonds step down in 2026.
The remaining bonds were refinanced at a lower rate this summer, saving taxpayers approx. $1.3 million in interest payments over the bonds' final 10 years. Read more here.
Even at $1.89 per $1,000, Hockinson School District’s total school tax rate is the second lowest out of all nine K-12 school districts in Clark County
What percentage of the total HSD budget comes from the levy?
The levy accounts for approximately 13% of Hockinson's total budget. In 2024-2025, it provided $4,717,003 for essential student programs and services. As a property-poor school district, the HSD also received $150,000 in levy equalization from the state.
What percentage of the total HSD budget comes from State funding?
In 2025-2026, State funding accounted for approximately 79% of the HSD annual budget or $36,284,742.
Does the Hockinson School District receive federal funding?
Yes. But the amount the HSD receives is considerably less when compared to other local school districts as this funding is tied to such qualifying factors as Free & Reduced Lunch participation. In 2025-2026, federal funding accounted for $1.7M of the HSD annual budget.
The McCleary Decision was supposed to 'fix' our funding, right?
The McCleary Decision required the state to increase funding for public schools to meet its constitutional obligation to fully fund basic education. While this resulted in additional state funding, it did not fully cover all school programs, such as Special Education, or the rising costs associated with operating schools. At the same time, school districts have faced significant increases in expenses—such as salaries, benefits, transportation, and technology—which have offset much of the additional funding provided by the state.
Does the money provided as part of this levy directly fund teacher salaries?
Levy dollars will fund the salaries of special education teachers.