Bonds = buildings, levies = learning and operations

Levies and bonds are used for different things. Levy dollars pay for educational programs and day-to-day operations of schools, including:

  • Teacher and staff support
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Classroom supplies, textbooks and equipment
  • Utilities and insurance
  • Safety and security staff

Levies are not typically used for significant construction and must be renewed in two-, three- or four-year intervals. The last levy that local voters approved for Vancouver Public Schools was in February 2019.

Bonds pay for facilities, including:

  • New construction
  • Replacement schools
  • Building upgrades, e.g., new roofs, heating and cooling systems
  • Safe and secure entrances
  • Remodeling and expansion

If approved by local voters, bonds are eligible for state matching funds. They are paid off over a maximum of 20 years.

The last bond measure that local voters approved for Vancouver Public Schools was in February 2017.