At the August 3 Board meeting, the School Board unanimously approved placing a two-year Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Supplemental Levy on the November ballot.  While the impacts of the shutdown resulted in modest savings, the District is projecting a significant budget deficit of $39.6 million over the next three years.

Local levies play a vital role for the district to fill the gap between state and federal funding and the actual costs of providing critical services to students. Levies fund essential staff, health/safety and security operations, educational and extracurricular programs, mental health supports, and year-round facility maintenance of Puyallup schools. 

While the impacts of the shutdown resulted in modest savings, the District is still projecting budget deficits. There are still several unknown factors that could impact fund balance including federal relief funds and additional expenditures necessary to implement continuous learning in the fall.

  • Levy dollars provide for highly trained teachers and staff. The most significant cost covered by the Educational Programs and Operations Levy is staffing and compensation. Competitive salaries are critical because they allow Puyallup to compete for and hire highly qualified teachers and support staff.

  • The Operations Department provides a safe, clean, and optimum learning environment for students and staff. They are responsible for day-to-day cleaning and repairs and keep school buildings running efficiently.

  • Levy dollars help the District maintain reasonable class sizes. They also pay for text-books and learning materials used in the classroom.

  • Music, arts, and athletic programs are mainly funded through levy dollars.

Puyallup has the lowest tax rate in comparison to neighboring districts. The proposed increase would continue to keep Puyallup homeowner’s tax rates the lowest.