Ridgefield High School Principal Christen Palmer, left, speaks during Tuesday’s school board meeting at Ridgefield Administration and Civic Center. During the meeting, the school board voted to place two levies on February’s ballot. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
The Ridgefield school board Tuesday voted unanimously to place two three-year levies on the Feb. 11 special election ballot.
The proposed replacement operations levy would collect a total of $44 million from 2026 to 2028, with an estimated tax rate of $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The proposed capital projects and technology levy would collect $21.2 million over the same period, with a focus on building a third elementary school and maintaining services. The projected capital levy rate would be 84 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The three-year levies require a simple majority to pass. If approved, they would go into effect in January 2026.
Two community members spoke at the meeting in support of the levies.
“As an educator, I’ve witnessed firsthand how investments in our schools strengthen the heart of our community,” said Kerri Upton, vice president of Citizens for Ridgefield Schools and special education lead at Union Ridge Elementary School.
If both levies pass, the owner of a $500,000 house would pay an estimated $1,890 in annual property taxes in 2026. The cost includes the existing 2012 and 2017 existing bonds.
This year, the property tax rate for Ridgefield schools was $2.53, which includes the current operations levy and existing bonds, and owners of a $500,000 home paid $1,265.
In August 2022, voters approved the current 2023-2025 operations levy of $30.7 million, with an anticipated rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
An unexpected increase in Ridgefield’s property values meant taxpayers actually paid $1.43 in 2023 and $1.47 in 2024 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The operations levy “bridges the gap between state funding and the actual costs of funding our schools,” said Kelliana Cole, a Ridgefield parent and member of Citizens for Ridgefield Schools. “It funds teachers, classroom support, supplies, transportation and enrichment programs — all essential services that directly impact every student’s education and well-being.”
In the past, operations levy money has gone toward sports and activities, special education, student supports, staff professional development, facilities and operating costs.
About $15 million from the capital levy, $21 million in impact fees on new development and $16.5 million in state funding would go toward building the elementary school, if the capital levy is approved.
“The capital and technology levy addresses the district’s most urgent needs, including the plans for a third elementary school to alleviate overcrowding,” Upton said. “This was developed through extensive community input.”
The district also plans to allocate funds from the capital levy to student and staff technology replenishment cycles, according to a November school board meeting presentation.
Bonds vs. levies
In the past 35 years, Ridgefield passed only four out of 17 bonds, according to district data. Voters in April rejected the most recent bond proposals, which would have collected between $70 million and $190 million.
Bonds are repaid with property taxes over as many as 40 years and must be approved by a 60 percent vote.
With feedback from community members about the April bond, the school board landed on the two proposed levies. The board and a crowd of about 30 clapped after each levy placement was approved.
“This is exactly what the community asked for: to use community input to inform your next ask and be smart about funding,” Cole said. “It leverages community voices and maximizes outside resources to address the need for a new elementary school.”
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