EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District Board of Directors voted in favor of asking district voters to approve an educational programs and operations levy Nov. 25 of last year and initial results from Tuesday evening show the measure to be passing.  

“We are incredibly grateful that initial election results indicate the Ephrata community continues to support our students and staff,” said Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray.  

Roughly two-thirds of Ephrata School District voters who voted on the proposal cast ballots in favor of the levy with 1,622 ballots, or 65.83%, in favor of the measure. Another 842 voters, or 34.17%, voted against the replacement levy. In 2021, the vote was roughly the same with 66.35% in favor of the current levy and 33.65% against that EP&O levy proposal. In 2021, 2,868 district voters filed ballots, while initial results show 2,464 ballots submitted in 2025, though mail-in ballots and uncounted ballots are not included in this year’s total. 

The estimated tax rate for the levy is $1.85 per $1,000 of property value or about $185 for every $100,000. The levy is expected to raise a little more than $2.7 million in 2026; $2.8 million in 2027; $2.9 million in 2028; and roughly $3 million in 2029. Most homeowners are expected to pay about $10.75 more monthly for property taxes for a median-valued home in Ephrata. The new levy will replace the current voter-approved levy which expires at the end of this coming December. 

“This levy provides stable funding for current programs and services that the state does not fully cover, all of which play a vital role in a well-rounded educational experience for our students. By participating in this election, our community has reaffirmed its commitment to the democratic process and, by voting in support of this levy, have indicated supporting our students and schools is important,” Murray said.    

The new levy will expire in December 2029 and the school district will need to examine options for replacing it in the fall of 2028 or early spring 2029. With the passage of the levy, the district will also receive an estimated $13 million in funding through local effort assistance, or LEA, from the state of Washington. 

EP&O levy funds are used for a variety of purposes, including supporting extracurriculars such as athletics, security services, paper and other supplies as well as electricity and water for district campuses. 

The Ephrata School District is also in the process of evaluating a possible bond election either later this year or sometime in 2026, though a date hasn’t been set. Murray said a group of community member volunteers has formed a workgroup to start evaluating what would be needed to ensure the facilities the district has meet the needs of the community. Additionally, a community survey will be sent out so that voters in the district and other residents can provide their input on what the district should consider in any bond package that may be placed on a ballot.  

“We want to make sure we’re not only meeting the needs of our district but also meeting the needs of our community,” he said.  

Murray credited the daily effort put out by district faculty, staff and coaches making it so the replacement levy measure went through. He said the staff in the district are passionate about educating and caring for students and the community’s appreciation of that effort shows up in the voting tally. 

“Anytime you pass a levy, it’s not about all of your work leading up to the levy, and you're making sure your community is informed,” Murray said. “That’s all important, but at the end of the day, it’s really an indication of the quality work we do day-to-day with our kids. You know, your community supports your schools because of the work you do year-round, not just the work you do around an election,” Murray said.  

    The Ephrata School District appears to have passed its 2025 replacement levy to support education programs and operations. The district has a history of passing levy measures with about two-thirds of voters supporting the district with yes votes.