North Mason School Board levy is now passing

Matt Baide | Nov 11, 20210

The North Mason School Board levy is passing as of Thursday’s afternoon by just 42 votes.

In Mason County, the levy is passing with a vote of 2,516 to 2,479. In Kitsap County, the levy is passing by eight votes, 56-51.

In Tuesday’s initial count, the levy was failing.

“We are very grateful that our school levy is now passing,” North Mason School District Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said in an email. “This vote was so important to ensuring that we are able to support the needs of our students. In North Mason, we are focused on meeting the needs of the whole child so that every student gets the supports and opportunities they need to succeed. Passing this levy will ensure we have the resources needed.”

North Mason tried to pass levies in February and April of 2020 but was unsuccessful. The projected tax rate per $1,000 assessed property value is estimated to be $1.32 in 2022, meaning a home worth $300,000 would pay $396 in levy costs in the first year. The tax rate is projected to decrease over the time of the levy due to more houses and buildings being built with more taxpayers to support the levy.

The levy amount is $3,831,125 each year from 2022 to 2025. The projected tax rate is cheaper than the levy in 2020, which was $1.87 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Levies pay for athletics, clubs, music, theater, small class sizes, school supplies, technology, transportation and staff, according to the North Mason School District website. The state does not fully fund all programs — just services that fall under basic education for schools.