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Local elections … local voices
Every vote counts, and nowhere is this truth more evident than in local elections. While national races often dominate the headlines, it's at the local level where individual voices resonate the loudest, and where each ballot cast carries the most weight.
Local elections are frequently decided by razor-thin margins, making every single vote critically important. In our own community, we've seen this play out in dramatic fashion.
Just look at the results of some local school board elections from last November. The numbers tell a compelling story about the power of participation. In one race right here in Bethel, less than 800 votes determined the winner. In Franklin Pierce, one school board seat was decided by 500 votes. In Eatonville, a mere 400 votes made the difference. These aren't abstract statistics. It’s proof that your individual vote can genuinely shape the future of education in our community.
Local levies are an essential part of school funding here in Washington state, filling critical gaps that state funding does not address. State funding is based on an outdated formula that doesn't reflect the actual needs of modern education. All districts in Washington employ more teachers and staff than the formula pays for, which is why we need local levies to help supplement the appropriate number of staff and teachers. This isn't a Bethel-specific problem, it's a statewide reality that affects every school district.
Passing our local levies also allow Bethel to continue receiving Local Effort Assistance. That’s more than $12 million annually of additional dollars from the state that only comes when local levies are approved by voters. If local levies are not approved, not only do we lose the levy money, but we lose the LEA money as well. That's a double financial blow that would severely impact our district.
Both the Educational Programs & Operations Levy and Technology Capital Levy are replacements of expiring measures. They are not new taxes. Both levies are on the February 2026 ballot at the same tax rates that voters approved in 2022. These rates allow Bethel to continue what has been working so well for our students, while ensuring consistency and predictability for taxpayers.
The power to shape the future of education in our community is in your hands. Every vote counts, so make sure your voice is heard in the February 10 election.
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By Bethel School DistrictEvery vote counts, and nowhere is this truth more evident than in local elections. While national races often dominate the headlines, it's at the local level where individual voices resonate the loudest, and where each ballot cast carries the most weight.
Local elections are frequently decided by razor-thin margins, making every single vote critically important. In our own community, we've seen this play out in dramatic fashion.
Just look at the results of some local school board elections from last November. The numbers tell a compelling story about the power of participation. In one race right here in Bethel, less than 800 votes determined the winner. In Franklin Pierce, one school board seat was decided by 500 votes. In Eatonville, a mere 400 votes made the difference. These aren't abstract statistics. It’s proof that your individual vote can genuinely shape the future of education in our community.
Local levies are an essential part of school funding here in Washington state, filling critical gaps that state funding does not address. State funding is based on an outdated formula that doesn't reflect the actual needs of modern education. All districts in Washington employ more teachers and staff than the formula pays for, which is why we need local levies to help supplement the appropriate number of staff and teachers. This isn't a Bethel-specific problem, it's a statewide reality that affects every school district.
Passing our local levies also allow Bethel to continue receiving Local Effort Assistance. That’s more than $12 million annually of additional dollars from the state that only comes when local levies are approved by voters. If local levies are not approved, not only do we lose the levy money, but we lose the LEA money as well. That's a double financial blow that would severely impact our district.
Both the Educational Programs & Operations Levy and Technology Capital Levy are replacements of expiring measures. They are not new taxes. Both levies are on the February 2026 ballot at the same tax rates that voters approved in 2022. These rates allow Bethel to continue what has been working so well for our students, while ensuring consistency and predictability for taxpayers.
The power to shape the future of education in our community is in your hands. Every vote counts, so make sure your voice is heard in the February 10 election.