McLoughlin Middle School will be completely rebuilt, thanks to a bond measure that voters approved in February 2017. Every single school in the district will be rebuilt or receive improvements between 2017 and 2024.
How school bonds and levies affect your bill
In Vancouver Public Schools, we are grateful for local voters and taxpayers’ support of this community’s schools. Your ongoing contributions allow us to provide extraordinary educations to Vancouver students, employ local workers and build/maintain buildings that serve the community.
Vancouver Public Schools receives tax dollars from different sources.
Local level
In previous years, local voters said yes to two levies and two bond measures that will affect property owners’ tax bills in 2018:
- Educational maintenance and operations levy
- Technology levy
- Bond measure (approved in 2001 and will be retired near the end of 2020)
- Bond measure (approved in 2017, collection begins with 2018 tax year)
State level and the levy swap
A state schools tax provides funding for school districts all over Washington.
- In 2018, the state will increase its school tax rate (amounts vary by county) and redistribute the money all over Washington. Local school levy rates will not be affected.
- In 2019, the state will maintain its school tax rate. Local school levy rates will be scaled back to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This is known as the levy swap. The changes will not affect voter-approved school bonds.
Tax rate breakdown
2017: Pre-levy swap
Actual total: $6.45 per assessed $1,000
2018: Transition year
Estimated total: $7.29 per assessed $1,000
2019: Levy swap
Estimated total: $5.81 per assessed $1,000
Sample amounts
To calculate that amount that you’ll owe annually in school taxes, please use the following formula:
Assessed home values (which vary from market values) are determined by the Clark County assessor’s office.The following table demonstrates the amount of school-related taxes that the owner of a median-priced home in Clark County might pay. Note that Vancouver Public Schools is not the only school district in the county, and rates will vary from district to district.
Tax year 2017 |
Tax year 2018 |
Tax year 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Median assessed home value |
$272,500 | $300,000 | $334,800 |
State school tax |
$540 ($1.98 per assessed $1,000) |
$873 ($2.91 per assessed $1,000) |
$867 ($2.59 per assessed $1,000) |
VPS levies and bonds |
$1,218 ($4.47 per assessed $1,000) |
$1,314 ($4.38 per assessed $1,000) |
$1,078 ($3.22 per assessed $1,000) |
Total(does not include other non-school levies or bonds) |
$1,758 | $2,187 | $1,945 |
Frequently asked questions
Vancouver Public Schools’ board of directors approves resolutions to put levies and bond measures on the ballot. The district determines the requested amount. Local voters are asked to approve or deny each levy and bond measure.
If you:
- Have questions about bonds and levies, contact VPS’ communications office at 360-313-1230 or by email.
- Have specific questions about your individual property taxes, contact the Clark County assessor’s office.
- Have questions about paying your property tax bill, contact the Clark County treasurer’s office.
- Want to appeal the assessed value of your property, contact the Board of Equalization at 360-397-2337 or by email.
Local levies pay for a variety of things, including classroom supplies, textbooks and equipment.