Thank you, voters!

Our local community has voted to renew a three-year replacement capital levy that funds safety and security updates, and facilities maintenance needs at the same rate per $1,000 of assessed property value as three years ago.

Why? Our schools are old – the last major update was 23 years ago – and even with preventative maintenance, they require significant, ongoing repairs to stay operational. The proposed capital levy would continue to fund facilities needs for our schools through 2027.

This is not a new tax!

Much like renewing a subscription, local voters are being asked to renew this local funding measure to continue support for updates to our aging facilities.

  • 1

    CTE program electrical updates – so that our modern metal and wood shops can continue to hold Career & Technical Education classes

  • 2

    Continued safety and security system enhancements to classrooms

  • 3

    An updated control panel for our primary school’s fire suppression system

  • 4

    Replacement of sink, bathroom, and other water fixtures with energy-efficient solutions across schools

  • 5

    HVAC updates at our high school (phase 2 of this work)

  • 6

    Parking lot resurfacing at our middle school and parking lot expansion at our high school

  • 7

    Elevator repair to support ADA access at our middle school

The capital levy would fund updates in schools across the district: 
Improvements & Updates High School Middle School Intermediate School Primary School
Continued safety and security system enhancements to classrooms
A functioning intercom/public announcement system to deliver important updates across all schools
Replacement of sink, bathroom, and other water fixtures with energy-efficient solutions across schools
CTE program electrical updates – so that our modern metal and wood shops can continue to hold Career & Technical Education classes
HVAC updates at the high school (phase 2 of this work)
Parking lot expansion
Parking lot resurfacing
Elevator repair to support ADA access
An updated control panel for our school fire suppression system

Focus on Fiscal Conservancy

The district has considered many options to address its aging facilities. Despite continued, routine preventative maintenance, many of our facility systems have surpassed their useful life – our buildings are 50 to 100 years old, with our last major update happening 23 years ago.

The proposed capital levy will address our most critical needs to keep our school facilities operational while maintaining the same rate per $1,000 of assessed property value approved three years ago. Learn more about what the previous levy accomplished >

Proposed Levy Years & Amounts 
Year Rate per $1,000 Cost per month for owner of $250,000 home Total collection amount
2025 $0.44 $9.16 $830,000
2026 $0.42 $8.75 $830,000
2027 $0.41 $8.54 $830,000

Rates are projected to generate $2.49 million over three years.

Facts about the February 13 Replacement Capital Levy

Voters are being asked to replace an expiring capital levy at the same rate per $1,000 as three years ago.

  • Average collection rate in Cowlitz County: $2.73/$1,000 of assessed value
  • Castle Rock’s total levy collection rate: $1.90/$1,000 of assessed value

That’s $0.83 lower than the average rate!

The levy would fund ongoing safety improvements, Career and Technical Education classroom updates, and address the facility and maintenance needs of our aging buildings.

Our primary, intermediate, middle, and high school would all see updates if the levy is approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tax rates are projected to be an estimated $0.44 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2025, $0.42 per $1,000 in 2026, and $0.41 in 2027. These rates are consistent with rates proposed and approved three years ago. Over three years, collections would total $2.49 million.

For the owner of a $250,000 home in Castle Rock, the proposed levy cost would be around $9 per month.

  • $0.44 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2025 >>> Cost per month for owner of $250,000 home: $9.16
  • $0.42 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2026 >>> Cost per month for owner of $250,000 home: $8.75
  • $0.41 per $1,000 assessed property value in 2027 >>> Cost per month for owner of $250,000 home: $8.54

Despite care for our facilities and routine preventative maintenance, many of our building systems have surpassed their usable life. Older buildings and systems require more attention. The proposed capital levy would address our most critical needs to keep our school facilities and grounds operational while keeping collection amounts the same. The proposed capital levy is replacing an expiring capital levy at the same rate.

Some senior and disabled homeowners may be eligible for a property tax exemption based on income. Please contact the Cowlitz County Assessor’s Office at (360) 577-3010 or assessor@cowlitzwa.gov.

In general, a bond provides funding for long-term capital projects such as purchasing property for schools, constructing new schools, or significantly modernizing existing schools. Think of a bond like a mortgage – you pay off a larger sum of money over a long period of time. Bonds require a supermajority vote (60% approval). A capital levy, like the one Castle Rock is bringing before voters, funds short-term technology, security, and maintenance/facilities repairs and only requires a simple majority 50% +1 approval. An EP&O levy is a short-term, local property tax passed by the voters of a school district that generates revenue for the district to fund programs and services that the state does not fund or fully fund as part of “basic education”. Things like athletics and clubs along with some staff positions are commonly funded out of local EP&O levies.

No. Several years ago, the Washington State Supreme Court determined that the state was not fulfilling its constitutional obligation to adequately fund what they defined as ‘basic education,’ a decision known as the McCleary Ruling. As a result, state legislators were mandated to devise a solution. This led to a revision in the funding mechanism for school districts, increasing state contributions while reducing reliance on local funding through levies and bonds. The state employs a funding formula, the Prototypical Funding Model, to allocate resources for ‘basic education.’ However, this model falls short in covering the actual operational costs of school districts. Consequently, local levies and bonds become essential, bridging the gap left by state and federal funding to ensure that various programs, services, and facility needs are sufficiently financed.

No. There are several areas of education that the state does not fully fund as part of “basic education.” Examples include technology, special education services, social-emotional learning, building maintenance, elective classes and Advanced Placement programs, and athletics and student activities. Districts are left to figure out how to pay for these services and programs on their own and ask local communities to fund the things that are important to them via bonds and levies.

No, pay for staff, including school administrator pay, comes from a completely separate budget than capital levy funds. Capital levies must be voter-approved and must fund the facilities’ projects, maintenance, and improvements voters intended to fund. Capital levies do not pay for any staff salaries.

Other Educational Programs & Operations levies that Castle Rock relies on must also be used for the purposes voters intended, such as extracurricular activities, technology and curriculum, student transportation, and specific staff positions in Special Education and Health and Safety.

The school superintendent’s salary is completely separate from and is not funded by the capital levy.