EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will decide the fate of educational programs and operations levies in a special election Feb. 10.  

Both Grant and Adams counties have ballot drop-off boxes at numerous locations, which will be open until 8 p.m. Election Day. People who are mailing a ballot should think about mailing it back well before Feb. 10 to ensure that it’s counted. Elections officials at the Grant County Auditor’s Office said the US Postal Service has suggested voters allow at least seven days. 

“If you are filling out your ballot day of (the election), the safest thing to do is to drop it off in a ballot box or bring it to the elections office,” said Elections Deputy Rebecca Pettingill of the Grant County Auditor’s Office. “That way, there’s no question it will be on time.”

The USPS announced Dec. 24 that people should take postmark delays into account when sending time-sensitive materials through the mail. 

“The postmark date does not necessarily or inherently align with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of the mail piece,” according to the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. 

Voters in the Othello, Quincy, Royal, Wahluke, Warden, Coulee-Hartline and Wilson Creek school districts will be voting on EP&O levies. School levies require approval from a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass. All levy requests on the Feb. 10 ballot, if they’re approved, would replace existing levies. 

Levy money comes from local taxpayers and is subject to fewer restrictions than state or federal funding. As a result, it’s used to pay for programs that aren’t funded to the levels district officials – and district patrons – think are needed, or that aren’t funded at all. Those range from extracurricular activities to school resource officers to additional staff.  

Some school districts are offering two-year levy requests, while others are asking for four years.  Othello district voters will be asked to approve a four-year levy. Typically, Othello voters consider a three-year levy, but Othello Superintendent Pete Perez said district officials decided to add another year due to the uncertainty of state funding. 

Some – but not all – local school districts are also eligible for levy assistance funding from the state. That money is available to qualifying districts with relatively lower property values that pass a local levy.  

If the Othello levy passes, property owners will be assessed $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value all four years. The levy is projected to generate about $4.2 million in 2027, $4.6 million in 2028, $5 million in 2029 and about $5.5 million in 2030. 

Warden district voters will be considering two separate proposals, one for a two-year levy, the other for an ongoing capital levy for technology and security upgrades. Both are for two years. 

If it’s approved, the levy assessment would be $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed value the first year and $2.45 per $1,000 of assessed value the second year. It’s projected to raise about $2.1 million in 2027 and $2.3 million in 2028.   

The assessment for the capital levy would be 42 cents per $1,000 if it passes. It’s projected to generate about $377,600 in 2027 and about $396,000 in 2028. 

Quincy voters will be considering a four-year proposal. Property owners would pay an estimated $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value all four years. If it’s approved, the levy is projected to generate about $10.7 million in 2027, $11 million in 2028, $11.3 million in 2029 and $11.7 million in 2030.   

Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman said QSD is not eligible for levy equalization due to the district’s high assessed property valuation. 

Royal School District officials are proposing a two-year levy. Property owners would pay $1.63 per $1,000 of assessed value each year if it passes. It’s projected to generate about $2 million in 2027 and $2.1 million in 2028. 

Wahluke voters are considering a four-year levy. If it’s approved, property owners would pay an estimated $2.50 per $1,0000 of assessed property value all four years. It’s projected to generate about $3 million in 2027, $3.15 million in 2028, $3.3 million in 2029 and $3.47 million in 2030.    

Wilson Creek School District patrons will vote on a two-year levy. If it’s approved, property owners would be assessed $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value both years. It’s projected to generate $386,000 in 2027 and $397,500 in 2028. 

In the Coulee/Hartline School District, the proposal is for two years. If it passes, property owners would be assessed 81 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027 and 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2028. If it passes, the levy is projected to generate $350,600 each year. 

Ballot dropoff boxes are located in each city; while there’s not an election in Moses Lake, that dropoff box will be open also due to its central location.  

Drop boxes are located at the Quincy Public Library. 208 Central Ave. South; Mattawa Community Medical Clinic, 210 Government Rd.; the Adams County Public Services building, 425 E. Main St., Othello; the Grant County Courthouse, 35 C St. Northwest; Moses Lake Civc Center, 321 S. Balsam St.; 101 NE Camelia St., Royal City; 124 Railroad St., Wilson Creek; the city hall in Coulee City, 501 W. Main St.; 115 Oak St., Warden, and 232 Chelan St. in Hartline. 

    Mason Russell, right, Othello, looks for an opening. Othello School District voters will be considering a four-year educational programs and operations levy, which, among many other things, funds OSD athletics.