The Educational Programs Levy is used to cover the cost of programs and activities that are not funded by the state. Money from the Educational Programs Levy is used to pay for extra teachers and staff to reduce class size, sports and instrumental programs, extended-day lessons for students, new curriculum, substitutes, and for students recieving specialized services.

When a school district places a levy measure before voters, it is asking for the authority to collect a specific amount of money from local property taxes for a set period of time, usually four years in the case of Educational Program and Operations levies or six years in the case of capital levies. Levies are approved if the ballot measure receives support from a majority of voters.

If the levy does not pass, the district will not have the funding needed to continue important student programs, classroom support, and safety services. These costs are not covered by the state, so the district would need to make reductions that could include fewer staff, fewer student opportunities, and cuts to school-based support.

Yes, the amount is limited by state law. A few years ago, the state capped the amount of money school districts could collect through local levies at no more than 24 percent of the previous year’s total revenue. As a result, the amount of money school districts could actually collect was often less than what voters had authorized. As the state continued to cut its funding for public education, state lawmakers felt school districts should have the authority to collect more money from local taxes. So, in 2010, the state Legislature passed a bill that increased the levy lid to 28 percent and changed the way the lid was calculated so that cuts in state funding would not reduce the amount of money a school district could collect through its levy. 

No. A levy is for a specific dollar amount. The school district cannot collect more money than what was approved by voters. Learn more about tax rates and property values on the tax rate page.