Voters approve school levies for Cascade, Manson, and Wenatchee districts

CHELAN COUNTY – Voters approved proposed levies for the Cascade, Manson, and Wenatchee school districts in the Feb. 11 special election.

Cascade and Manson school districts presented replacement levies for both the Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy and Capital Levy for Safety, Security, Technology and Facility Improvements, which are set to expire in each district in Dec. 2025.

The EP&O levy funds student programs and services that receive little to no federal funding, such as athletics and extra-curriculars, special education support, unfunded staff positions, and unexpected or district-specific expenses, such as snow removal. Capital levies fund the building and renovation of schools, security improvements, technology, and school infrastructure.

Cascade School District’s EP&O levy passed with approximately 67 percent favorability, totaling 2,270 ‘yes’ votes. The Capital levy fared similarly with 66 percent approval, totaling 2,226 votes. 

The district anticipates the combined rate for both levies will total $1.14 per $1,000 per assessed value or less for all four years of the levies, which was the combined rate approved by voters in 2021. The maximum amount collected from the combined levies is expected to total $27.85 million over four years, averaging $6.9 million each year.

Manson School District’s three-year EP&O levy passed with 67 percent approval or 678 votes. The estimated levy rate for 2026 is $1.14, with it dropping by one cent each year through 2028. The collected taxes will provide up to $2.2 million in 2026 and $2.3 million by 2028.

Manson’s three-year Capital levy passed with nearly 67 percent approval or 688 votes. The proposed three-year replacement levy would authorize the collection of taxes to provide up to $1.03 million each year starting 2026 through 2028. The levy rate is estimated to be 55 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

Wenatchee School District proposed a single four-year EP&O levy, which passed with 62 percent approval, or 6,720 votes. The levy rate is estimated to be $2.20 per $1,000 of assessed value. $18.1 million in 2026. The proposed four-year replacement levy would authorize collection of taxes to provide up to $18.1 million in 2026 and $20.96 million in 2029. 

For all of the districts, the exact levy rate may be adjusted based on the actual assessed value of taxable property within the district.

The special election had a 32 percent voter turnout. 

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media