Three distinct sources of local school funding are necessary to effectively serve students and meet the community's expectations.  These sources include an Educational Programs and Operations Levy, a Safety, Technology and Capital Projects Levy and a School Construction Bond.  Each of these funding streams have provided essential resources for many years. Most Pierce County School Districts, and many districts statewide, also rely on two levies and construction bonds for funding.  All local funding is "voter-approved" and requires regular (or occasional) "renewal" or "replacement" in elections. 

There is a common phrase in education - Bonds build buildings and levies fund learning. Propositions #1 and #3 support learning and operations.  Proposition #2 is for school construction. Link to Bond and Levy Basics page

Proposition #1: Replacement Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy - This measure renews local levy funding that makes up approximately 15% of the district’s annual budget. If approved, it would continue to fund key programs and services.

Proposition #2: Bonds to Replace or Renovate Deteriorating Buildings and Improve Safety - This measure would fund the replacement or renovation of school buildings that are 50 to 60 years old, have aged beyond their useful life despite routine maintenance, and no longer meet today’s learning needs.

Proposition #3: Replacement Safety, Technology and Capital Improvements Levy - This measure would renew local funding for technology and safety systems that support student learning and school operations. Note - The rate for this replacement levy has been reduced by more than 50% (from $0.47 to $0.20) in order to offset some of the cost of the bonds in Proposition 2.

For a more in-depth description of all three Propositions and the differences, click here for more details.

Like many schools across the state, University Place relies heavily on the use of various technology systems and devices not funded by the state. This includes safety technology such as security cameras, communication tools, remote door locking systems, and emergency notification systems. It also includes classroom technology, student devices and software, operational computer technology, and the network and infrastructure necessary to make this equipment function. UP citizens have supported this levy since 1994. 

Funding from Proposition #1 is used for additional athletics, music and elective programs and staffing beyond what is provided by the state. It also funds safety personnel, nurses, additional counselors and instructional materials and resources. Spreading out funding needs across two levies and three total measures helps reduce the overall cost to local taxpayers. Funds raised by Proposition #1 alone don’t generate enough money to support the technology or capital improvements the district requires. 

Funds from Proposition #2 (bond) could be used for safety and technology,  but that would increase the total proposed funding amount requested because the funding would be subject to interest payments over a twenty-year time frame. Proposition #3 allows the district to purchase safety and technology equipment without incurring interest, ultimately saving taxpayers money in the long run.

The three main projects include replacing and/or renovating buildings at our oldest schools. 

• Replacement of Sunset Primary with improved access and parking
• Replacement of Chambers Primary with improved access and parking
• Renovation or replacement of classroom buildings at Curtis High School (CHS)
  • Demolition of CHS 100, 200, 300 and 400E buildings.
  • New construction of a more secure "main building" connected to the newest portion of the CHS 400W building and to the 500 buildings to establish one, connected building.
  • Minor improvements to other CHS buildings.
  • Creation of a school/community Performing Arts Center for music and theater, new music classrooms and modern classrooms to support Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
  • Improved access and parking
• Improvements to recreational/athletic facilities at multiple district sites, including improvements to playgrounds, fields and other community priorities.

Tax collections for the bond will begin in 2027 and end around 2047.  This duration is 20 years, just like the 2006 bond. Collections from the 2006 bond will end in 2027.

The district is committed to improving the health and fitness of students, to providing high-quality athletic programs to students in grades 6-12 and to supporting community goals of expanding recreational opportunities for youth and adults in University Place. 

Available funding from Proposition #2 will be used to improve playgrounds, fields and other recreational facilities in the district. Specific projects will be selected based on community input and identified need.  Potential projects include replacement of the Viking Stadium field turf, additional field turf in other locations, HVAC improvements at the Aquatic Center, improved playgrounds at new and existing primary and intermediate schools.

Bonds are the only method for funding large-scale construction projects in Washington school districts.  Passing a school construction bond is necessary to raise sufficient funds to replace old schools and build new ones.

The District needs to replace aging and outdated school facilities to enhance safety and security,  improve educational opportunities for students, and enhance safety and security. Several schools in UPSD are between 50 and 60 years old and no longer meet today’s learning needs.  Even with routine maintenance these facilities have aged beyond their useful life and require replacement 

Waiting longer to run a bond, or running a smaller bond, would further add to replacement costs in the long run. The costs of school construction are increasing at a rapid rate. This accelerated inflation increases the costs associated with replacing schools. The longer we wait, the higher the prospective cost.

The decision to replace Sunset, Chambers and large portions of Curtis High School was based on an extensive review of the facilities and input from the Community Facility Advisory Committee (CFAF), which included families and community members, and school staff and administrators.

TheCommunity Facility Advisory Committee (CFAF) (more info on CFAC)  spent months reviewing information about our facilities, went on site tours and analyzed financial data on project costs and tax implications.The committee met 5 times between December (2024) and May (2025) reviewing the information they used recommend  that Sunset, Chambers and CHS be the focus of a school construction bond.

The timeline of the main components of planning for the construction bond is linked here.

The total amount for the bond measure (Proposition #2) is $295 million. If passed, the district will qualify for an additional  $60M in state-funded assistance. State assistance funds do not impact local taxes or tax rates. A $295 million bond combined with the state contribution will provide the district with more than $350 million to put toward construction projects, but these state funds are only available if the bond passes.

School construction and modernization are minimally funded by the state and only after a district passes a school construction bond.  School districts the size of University Place rely on local, voter-approved bond funding to build schools. 

If voters pass Proposition #2, University Place School District would be eligible for about $60 million in additional state assistance. This money goes directly toward construction costs, saving taxpayers money. 

UP voters passed the last bond proposition in February 2006 (20 years ago) and will be fully repaid in 2027.

Each proposition is a separate tax. The estimated tax rate for Proposition #1 will not change.  The estimated tax rate for Proposition #2 will be an increase over the current bond rate from 2006.  The estimated tax rate for Proposition #3 will be reduced to help offset the increase from the proposed bond.

The amount of money that the district can collect for levies is capped by the total dollar amount that voters approve. The amount of money collected for the bond measure is the total voter-approved amount and the interest to pay off the bonds over the next 20 years.  

The following chart shows the maximum amount that the district can collect for each of the next four years for Proposition #1 in the column on the far right:

The following chart shows the maximum amount that the district can collect for each of the next four years for Proposition #3 in the column on the far right:

The total, maximum collection amounts for levies (Propositions #1 and #3) are fixed.  The district uses these set, voter-approved amounts to estimate tax rates that property owners can use to calculate their personal tax impacts.  

The estimated rate for the school construction bond (Proposition #2) is $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. This will "replace" the expiring bond voters approved in 2006. Tax rates for bonds decrease towards the end of their repayment period. The tax rate for the 2006 bonds is currently $0.73, and was around $2.50 early in its repayment period.

The following chart compares the current tax rates for levies passed in 2022 and the 2006 bond with estimate rates should voters approve all three propositions:

Note: Tax rates change over time.  District estimates are based on expected property value increases and changes to Total Assessed Values in UP.  Taxes are levied based on assessed value of properties, not market value.  Assessed values are sent to homeowners annually by the county and can be found on the Pierce County Assessors website.

Tax rates are impacted by two things: 1) the assessed value of all property in the district and 2) the amount of taxes being collected. In 2025, the total, combined tax rate in University Place is $3.70. That rate pays for the current Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy, current Safety, Technology and Capital Improvement Levy, and the 2006 bonds.

We estimate the total, combined tax rate in 2027 to be about $4.95 (a $1.25 increase). The tax rate for Proposition #1 (EP&O Levy)will remain flat. The tax rate for Proposition #2 (Bond) will increase to fund construction costs that are much higher than in 2006.  The tax rate for Proposition #3 (Technology and Capital Improvement Levy) will decrease to help offset increases from Proposition #2 and because capital needs will be reduced with the construction of 3 new schools with fewer maintenance/improvement needs.

All districts in Pierce County rely on Educational Programs and Operations Levies (EP&O) to run their basic programs (Proposition #1).  Most districts also benefit from local Capital Project levies of various sizes to fund technology and school facility improvements (Proposition #3).  All but two districts are collecting taxes to pay for current or past construction projects (Proposition #2), and several districts have recently passed school construction bonds to fund future projects (Sumner - $702M, Tacoma - $605M, Orting - $137M). 

This chart shows the combined tax rate for bonds and levies in Pierce County in 2025:

Note: Nine(9) Pierce County school districts are running levies or bonds in February 2026.  The 2026 comparative combined tax rates will change based on the outcomes of these measures.

If you know the assessed value of your property, calculate the estimated tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property value by multiplying your home’s assessed value by the tax rate, and then dividing by 1,000.

For example, if your assessed value is $500,000 and the total, combined tax rate is $4.95 per one thousand dollars of value, your total local school tax will be $2,475/year or $206.25/month. $500,000 x $4.95 / 1,000 = $2,475 total annual school tax.

For your assessed property value, use the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s Property Tax & Value Search tool.

The median assessed home value in UP is $575,000.  The estimated increase in taxes if all three propositions are approved is $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of a home at the median assessed value would pay just under $60 more per month ($59.89) for a total of $718.25 per year.

Note: Tax rates change over time.  District estimates are based on expected property value increases and changes to Total Assessed Values in UP.  Taxes are levied based on assessed value of properties, not market value.  Assessed values are sent to homeowners annually by the county and can be found on the Pierce County Assessors website.

We estimate that the net change in taxes for all three propositions will be an increase of $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value. Homeowners can calculate the change in their taxes by dividing the assessed value of their home by $1,000 and multiplying this number by $1.25.  This would be the total, annual increase.  To get the monthly cost, just divide that annual total by 12.

For example, if my home is worth $500,000 I would divide by $1,000 to get 500.  Then I would multiply 500 by $1.25 to get $625. This is the annual increase.  To get the monthly cost, I would divide $625 by 12 to get $52 per month.

These equations can be used for the calculations: 

Assessed Home Value / 1,000 X 1.25 = Total Annual Increase

Assessed Home Value / 1,000 X 1.25 / 12 = Total Monthly Increase

We estimate that the total tax rate for all three propositions will be $4.95. This is an increase over the current year, but is comparable to rates in 2020 as the chart below explains.  Over the last 20 years, rates have been as high as $7.47.

Combined Tax Rates for Bonds & Levies in UPSD 2020-2029 (est.)

Note: The tax rates for 2020-2025 are actual rates.  The rates for 2026-2029 are estimates.

The special election is on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Ballots will be mailed to homes around January 23, 2026. All ballots must be returned or postmarked by 8 p.m. on February 10, 2026, to be valid.

You may register to vote by mail, in person, or online at Pierce County Elections.

Yes, senior citizens and people with disabilities may qualify for a tax exemption. If your annual income does not exceed $64,000 and you own and reside in your home, including mobile homes, you may be eligible. You must be at least 61 years of age or, if under 61, retired because of a disability and unable to work. To learn more and apply for the senior/disabled exemption, contact the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s Office.