Local Levies at Longview Public Schools

• About 69 teachers and other certified positions.
• Well over 65 school support employees.
• Special Education services.

• Smaller class sizes.
• Instructional materials, textbooks and workbooks.
• Classroom supplies.
• Staff training.
• School security.
• Student transportation.

• Sports programs, coaches, referees, and transportation to games.
• Music and arts programs, including performing arts.
• Before and after school programs.
• Clubs, extracurricular activities, and advisors.

The EP&O Levy funds necessary school programs and well over 130 staff positions. These employees are the backbone of the district and provide direct services to students in the form of teaching, counseling, coaching, feeding, and transporting students, as well as, maintaining our schools and providing technical support to students and teachers. A levy failure would greatly reduce funding districtwide resulting in: 

• Significantly fewer teachers and support professionals who provide instruction for students.
• Fewer counselors and mental health supports to meet students’ social and emotional needs.
• Significant cuts to sports programs, clubs, performing arts, and other student activities. 
• Reduced classroom materials, supplies, and curriculum updates for students and teachers.
• Less funding for security, facility maintenance, and customer service.
• Larger class sizes.

The EP&O Levy funds the equivalent of all employees in 3 Longview elementary schools combined.

The Replacement EP&O Levy will provide necessary supports to ALL students, in all schools, while being sensitive to local taxpayers.

It’s all about balance.

Through careful planning, the EP&O levy collection amounts are structured to increase slightly to keep pace with rising expenses, while at the same time, tax collections for the Capital Projects and Technology Levy are decreasing. As a result, total locally voted school tax collections will decrease and remain less than previous years.

The levy collection amounts are fixed and cannot increase. If assessed property valuations increase, the tax rate for these levies will go down so the total dollar amount collected stays the same as approved by voters. 

Over the life of the EP&O Levy, tax rates are estimated to decline from $1.94/$1,000 of assessed property value to $1.83/$1,000, remaining well below the maximum allowed by the state:

* Future tax rates are estimates and are per $1,000 assessed property value per year. Levy collection amounts do not change. The estimated tax rate could change if assessed property values change more or less than estimates, but levy collection amounts will not change.

2023 Regional Tax Rate Comparison per $1,000 of Assessed Property Value (includes all locally voted school district levies and bonds):

• Longview Public Schools: $2.79
• Cowlitz County School District Average: $2.82
• Clark County School District Average: $3.01

A Balanced Approach
If the levy is approved, locally voted school tax collections will decrease overall. The EP&O levy collection amounts are structured to slightly increase to keep pace with rising expenses; however, tax collections for the 2022 Capital Projects and Technology levy are decreasing during the same time period. As a result, total locally voted school tax collections will decrease and remain less than previous years.