17th Legislative District

Camas is growing, and the resources required to keep our city safe are increasing too. Camas Proposition 5 addresses a gap in police funding by proposing a utility tax.

Recently, the Camas City Council passed a resolution to provide public safety resources through a Utility Business and Occupation Tax that is now being put to voters in the form of Proposition 5. The proposition is expected to generate approximately $1 million annually through a 4% tax on municipal water, sewer, and stormwater services. This would raise the existing 2% utility tax up to a 6% rate. All revenue raised from this tax will go towards addressing public safety concerns.

The proposed utility tax would cover the hiring of two new sergeants, a patrol lieutenant, and an additional officer as well as equipment, vehicles, uniforms, and training costs. The political right is outspoken about the need to provide local police with sufficient funding, but Camas local conservatives are more interested in redirecting funding from existing other public goods like libraries and roads. By passing this tax, we can protect funding for other community programs and services while keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Although we have concerns about increasing regressive taxes to raise public revenue, this proposition will ensure our city has the resources and services to meet our community's needs. Vote Yes on City of Camas Proposition 5.

The Battle Ground School District relies on local levies and bonds to fund the 35% of operations costs that aren’t covered by the state. Proposition 8 would replace an expiring local levy to ensure our students can continue to access basic resources, enrichment, and opportunities.

The expiring Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy was last approved by voters in 2021. The replacement levy is estimated to cost $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed property value across all four years; this would cost the owner of median priced $595,000 home approximately $1,160 annually. This rate is lower than the 2021 levy’s rate and, historically, the actual EP&O rate ends up being lower than the estimated rate.

This levy would specifically fund special education costs, student safety measures, the arts curriculum, mental health resources, athletics programs, and school buses. The Battle Ground School District operates with a lower-than-average administrative overhead and has received praise for responsible use of taxpayer funds.

Vote Yes on Battle Ground School District Proposition 8 to ensure every local student has the resources and support they need to thrive.

Evergreen School District Proposition 7 renews the district’s current Educational Programs and Operational (EP&O) Levy for another four years. The district relies on this kind of levy to cover the 13.5% of basic operations costs that are not covered by the state.

The district’s school board recommended a levy renewal to maintain students' access to a high-quality education. If approved, this levy will fund the salaries of counselors, coaches, and paraeducators, the costs of textbooks and field trips, athletics and arts programming, and more.

The levy, if passed once again by voters, will operate at an estimated rate of $2.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2026, costing approximately $1,880 for the owner of an $800,000 home.

Vote Yes on Evergreen School District Proposition 7 to ensure all Evergreen students have the opportunity to thrive.

Evergreen School District Proposition 8 renews a current Safety, Security, and Technology Capital (SSTC) Levy so that all local students can access a high-quality, modern, and safe education.

The SSTC Levy addresses district costs such as audio-visual equipment, internet services, cybersecurity, emergency response systems, and more. By ensuring our learning facilities and technology infrastructure are up-to-date, we equip our students to make the most of their educations and help close equity gaps so that every student can meet their potential.

Evergreen voters most recently approved this levy in 2019 and this year's levy would extend the critical funding for another four years. The levy is estimated to cost $0.40 per $1,000 in assessed property value in 2026, which would cost the owner of an $800,000 home approximately $320 in the first year.

Vote Yes on Evergreen School District Proposition 8 to prepare our students for bright, successful futures.

Students need access to safe, modern, and well-resourced learning environments to meet their full potential. Like Washington's other school districts, Mount Pleasant relies on local funding to cover the costs of operating our schools that state funding can’t alone provide. To that end, Proposition 1 would authorize a three-year Maintenance and Operations Levy to ensure our students have the resources and programs they need.

If passed, Proposition 1 would authorize a three-year Maintenance and Operations Levy at a rate of $195,000 per year, which has been stable since the levy first passed 12 years ago. It is expected to cost $2.13 per $1,000 in assessed property value and could decrease over its three years of collection. At this estimated highest rate, the levy would cost the owner of a $400,000 home approximately $852 annually.

The Maintenance and Operations Levy covers basic operations of our local, K-8 education. With proper funding, our district can close learning gaps, ensure no students slip through the cracks, and offer a foundation from which our students can launch bright futures.

Votes Yes on Mount Pleasant School District Proposition 1.

Our whole community benefits when we give our students the best resources, facilities, and opportunities to start their futures. If approved, Vancouver School District Proposition 7 would pass a Technology, Safety, and Capital Projects Levy to replace an expiring levy.

Technology infrastructure in our schools helps provide our kids with a modern and safe education. However, the school district’s current technology resources and learning facilities are in need of repair, updating, and expansion. Last year, the Vancouver School Board passed a resolution for a replacement levy to continue covering these needs for our local students and teachers once the current levy expires.

This proposed levy is not a new tax, but simply a five-year renewal for the district’s existing technology levy. Proposition 7 would cost voters $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2026 and gradually increase to a rate of $0.38 per $1,000. The average owner of a $478,000 home could expect to pay, at most, $182 annually.

All Vancouver students deserve a high-quality curriculum, enriching programs, and safe, modern learning environments. Vote Yes on Vancouver School District Proposition 7 to keep our local schools strong and give our students the best foundations for their futures.