2022 Renewal School Program & Operations Levy
Thank you Monroe voters for approving the renewal School Program & Operations Levy in November 2022!
The four-year School Program & Operations levy (SP&O), which voters approved in 2022, will expire at the end of 2026. The renewal of the SP&O levy was not a new tax; it was a renewal of an expiring levy that continues to bridge the gap between what the state funds as "basic education" and the cost of all the programs, services, and essential staff the Monroe School District provides for its students.
School districts rely on voter-approved funding measures to cover costs not funded by the state to provide all students with a well rounded education. Over 14% of Monroe School District's total budget comes from the local SP&O levy.
What does the SP&O levy pay for?
The renewal of the four-year SP&O levy funds many day-to-day operations, programs, services and essential staff, not fully funded by the state, including:
- Athletics and extracurricular activities
- Additional staff beyond what the state provides funding for, such as nurses, counselors, paraeducators
- Additional teachers beyond what the state provides funding for, to keep class sizes low
- School safety and security
- Student transportation
- Special education programs
- Professional learning for staff
- Operations and building maintenance costs
- Supplies and materials
Cost Information
Monroe taxpayers were paying a tax rate of $1.79 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the SP&O levy in 2022. With the levy renewal in November 2022, the estimated tax rate of $1.71* per $1,000 of assessed property value will generate a maximum total amount of (middle column below):
| Collection Year | Total Levy Amount (Maximum) | Estimated Tax Rate* |
| 2023 | $15,890,376 | $1.71 |
| 2024 | $16,767,086 | $1.72 |
| 2025 | $17,672,509 | $1.73 |
| 2026 | $18,607,442 | $1.73 |
*The estimated tax rates per $1,000 of assessed property value are based upon information provided by the Snohomish County Assessor's Office at this time. The exact levy rate to be collected shall be adjusted based upon the actual assessed value of the property within the Monroe School District at the time of the levy.
The total levy dollar amount, that voters are asked to approve, is a fixed amount. Property taxes adjust based on the assessed value of a piece of property each year. If property values increase, the district still is only able to collect the voter approved maximum - no matter how much assessed values increase. As more people move into the Monroe School District boundaries, more property owners contribute to the total levy amount, which means that each property owner may pay less in taxes.
Tax Rate Comparison
The table below shows a local school tax rate comparison of many of our neighboring school districts in Snohomish County in 2022. The total local school tax rate includes all voter approved bonds and levies within each school district. In comparison to other districts, Monroe School District collects a lower tax rate than the majority.
| School District | Total LOCAL School Tax Rate* (includes bonds & levies) |
| Snohomish School District | $4.40 |
| Marysville School District | $3.69 |
| Lake Stevens School District | $3.42 |
| Everett Public Schools | $3.27 |
| Northshore School District | $3.25 |
| Edmonds School District | $3.19 |
| Mukilteo School District | $3.04 |
| Arlington Public Schools | $2.49 |
Monroe School District |
$2.61 |
| Sultan School District | $2.07 |
*2022 tax rates per $1,000 of assessed property value
Source: SNOCO Assessor's Annual report 2022 Taxes