Skip to main content

Schools

Popular Links

EP&O Levy

The Bremerton School District EP&O Levy

Levy funding is critical to maintaining programs and services that are not fully funded by the state, such as athletics, and fine arts, school security, and staff positions that directly serve students.

This February, Bremerton School District will ask voters to renew a four-year Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy. This is not a new tax. If approved, it would replace a previously approved local funding measure that is set to expire at the end of 2026.

In Bremerton, local levy funds provide approximately 15% of the district's overall operating budget. As many as 290 public school districts (out of the state's 295 districts) rely on local levy funding to bridge the gap between what the state provides and the actual cost of providing students with a quality education. 

Our state is a vote-by-mail state, and ballots will arrive in mailboxes around January 23. Remember to vote by Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
 

Stakeholder survey

Thank you to the nearly 400 staff, parents and community members who participated in our stakeholder survey in early October.  We invite you to view the summary of survey responses here. 

The District Advisory Council will review all of the input as they make a recommendation to the Bremerton School Board on the levy resolution.

Local levy dollars support programs and services for local students

If approved by voters, the levy would continue funding for:

  • Student learning: classroom teachers, basic education paraeducators, curriculum, technology staff, and instructional materials.
  • Student support, safety & supervision: counselors and security staff.
  • Daily operations and maintenance: custodial, grounds, and maintenance staff and affiliated costs.
  • Extracurricular programs: athletics, clubs, and other activities.

Essential staff positions are funded as follows:

  • Basic Ed Teachers (17% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • School Councelors (30% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • Custodians (49% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • Maintenance & Grounds Crew (50% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • Technology Staff (75% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • Basic Ed Paraeducators (79% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • Safety & Securoty Officers (89% funded by EP&O Levy)
  • Coaches & Advisors (100% funded by EP&O Levy)

 

Icons representing various roles, including teachers, counselors, and staff.

The proposed levy replaces a previously-approved levy

The projected 10 cent rate increase helps the district keep pace with rising costs, while being sensitive to local taxpayers.

Collection Years

Rate per $1,000

Levy Amount

2027

$2.09

$16,879,954

2028

$2.09

$17,555,152

2029

$2.09

$18,257,358

2030

$2.09

$18,987,652

A graphic compares tax rates, showing 2026 projected ($3.04) and proposed rates ($3.14) with combined bond and levies

Example: For the owner of a home with an assessed value of $500,000, the proposed increase would amount to about $4.17 more per month than the current tax rates.

Calculate your estimated tax based on your home's assessed value:
(Assessed Value) x (estimated rate) / $1,000 = estimated yearly tax / 12 = monthly rate

The estimated tax rate is $2.09 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is an estimated increase of 10 cents per thousand of assessed value from the district’s current levy rate. Tax rates may fluctuate, based on community growth and assessed values, but the district cannot collect more than approved by voters.

Image showing a house icon with a monthly cost, increasing from $126.67 to $130.83

News, Updates & Announcements

11/20/25 News Release

Logo with a blue and yellow color scheme, featuring a stylized 'B' and text.

 

News Release

November 20, 2025


BREMERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT REPLACEMENT LEVY ON FEBRUARY 10 BALLOT

This February, Bremerton School District will ask voters to renew a four-year Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy. The Bremerton School District Board of Directors voted at its Nov. 13 meeting to place a replacement levy on the Feb. 10, 2026, ballot.

In Bremerton, local levy funds provide approximately 15% of the district's overall operating budget.  If approved, it would replace a previously approved local funding measure that is set to expire at the end of 2026 and continue funding for: 

  • Student learning: classroom teachers, basic education paraeducators, technology staff, and instructional materials.

  • Student support, safety & supervision: counselors and security staff.

  • Daily operations and maintenance: custodial, grounds, and maintenance staff and affiliated costs.

  • Extracurricular programs: athletics, clubs, and other activities.

The proposed four-year replacement levy would collect:

2027 $16,879,954
2028 $16,879,954
2029 $17,555,152
2030 $18,987,652

The estimated tax rate is $2.09 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is an estimated increase of 10 cents per thousand of assessed value from the district’s current levy rate. Actual rates will depend on final assessed values.

For information contact:

Karen Bevers
Director of Communications & Community Engagement
Bremerton School District
Karen.Bevers@BremertonSchools.org
360-473-1014

 

Download the news release

For/Against committee member sought

The Bremerton School District Board of Directors voted at its Nov. 13 meeting to place a renewal Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy on the Feb. 10, 2026, ballot.

The District is seeking applications from persons interested in being appointed for the for/against committees and/or to write the for/against statements for the Kitsap County local voters’ pamphlet for the District’s ballot measures.

Those interested should send their name, address, phone number, email to Dr. Garth Steedman via email at Garth.Steedman@BremertonSchoosl.org or via mail at 134 Marion Avenue N. Bremerton, WA 98312. Please note which position you would like to represent.  Applications are due on Friday, December 5.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • An educational programs and operations levy, also called an EP&O levy or an enrichment levy, is a funding measure that helps bridge the gap between educational programs and services that the state does not fund or underfunds. 

  • Bremerton School District has both a bond and a levy, which support the Bremerton School District in different ways. Bonds are for buildings, and levies are for learning, but both are critical.

     

    Bond

    In February 2024, Bremerton School District voters approved a 25-year bond to fund construction, major renovations, and facility improvements across the district. Learn more about Bremerton’s Bond Program here. Bond funds can only be used for capital projects like:

    • Building new schools or additions
    • Major renovations and modernizations
    • Replacing roofs, HVAC systems, and other infrastructure
    • Safety and security upgrades to facilities

     

    Levy (Educational Programs & Operations)

    The EP&O levy funds educational programs and supports the costs of staff who keep our schools running. Levy funds support:

    • Teacher and staff salaries (including 100% of coaches/advisors, 89% of safety officers, and portions of teachers, counselors, and support staff)
    • Extracurricular activities like athletics, theater, and music

     

    Why both matter:

    The bond ensures our students learn in safe, modern facilities. The levy ensures we have the teachers, staff, programs, and services that bring those buildings to life. The EP&O levy makes up approximately 15% of Bremerton School District's total operating budget. Without it, the district would need to make cuts to staffing, programs, and services that directly impact student learning and experiences.

  • Yes, voters approved a two-year Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy in 2024, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. Levies are temporary local funding measures that require voter approval and typically run for one to six years. This February's proposed replacement levy would extend local funding for four years (through 2030), meaning voters would not be asked to consider another levy measure until 2029. Without voter approval of this replacement levy, the district would lose approximately 15% of its operating budget, impacting staffing, programs, and services that students and families rely on.

For more information

If you have questions, please contact the business office at finance.office@BremertonSchools.org or 360-473-1031.