As of Thursday, Feb. 12, results from the Feb. 10 special election showed Battle Ground Public Schools’ levy falling short of a majority, while the Hockinson School District measure held a lead. The next update was set for Tuesday, Feb. 17 as of press time.
In the Battle Ground School District, results showed Proposition No. 10 receiving 12,058 yes votes and 12,613 no votes, with 48.88% in favor and 51.12% opposed, a difference of 555 votes as of Thursday.
School levies need 50% of the vote plus one ballot to pass.
Proposition No. 10 would replace an expired educational programs and operations levy and allow the district to collect excess taxes to fund programs and services not fully covered by the state. Those include student safety, smaller class sizes, special education, teachers, nursing, mental health support, career readiness and sports and extracurricular activities.
The district seeks an initial estimated levy rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value. If approved, the levy would begin collecting in 2027 and run through 2030. Actual rates could be lower depending on new construction within district boundaries. By law, the district cannot collect more than the amount approved by voters, even if property values increase.
The latest levy began at $1.99 in 2022 and expired in December last year at a rate of $1.68. A previous levy renewal request at $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed value was rejected twice in 2025. Without levy funding, the district made roughly $20 million in cuts but later restored about $6 million, largely tied to safety and security, using one-time savings.
Cuts made this school year include eliminating all middle school sports and coaching positions, free school supplies for primary grades, Kindergarten Jump Start, instructional coaches and teacher librarians. The district also reduced crossing guard shifts, nursing and mental health roles, consolidated bus routes, delayed curriculum purchases and scaled back the ASPIRE magnet program by removing its third-grade cohort. District officials have said the ability to use those savings again would be heavily limited if the levy fails.
The district faces another $20 million in cuts if the measure is not approved. If the levy does not pass in February, district leaders have said they plan to return to voters in November rather than April.
“We will gather input from our community to help determine a path forward,” a Battle Ground Public Schools statement read. “While students will remain our priority, the amount of reductions and rising unfunded mandates will require taking a close look at anything not fully funded by state, federal or grant money. This may affect areas without full funding, such as safety, staffing and programs, sports and extracurricular activities, transportation, maintenance and more. Information about opportunities to provide input will be available soon.”
In the Hockinson School District, early results showed Proposition No. 11 receiving 2,173 yes votes and 1,706 no votes, with 56.02% in favor and 43.98% opposed, a difference of 467 votes as of Thursday.
Proposition No. 11 would replace an expiring school programs and operations levy and continue funding expenses not fully funded by the state, including extracurricular activities, athletics, technology, advanced courses, music, nursing, transportation and student safety.
“We are deeply grateful to our community for stepping up in support of our students, staff, and schools. Hockinson’s schools are filled with young people who are engaged, thriving and involved and they’re supported by educators who invest in them every single day. This vote is an affirmation of the value our community places in strong public schools,” Kat Stupka, Hockinson School District Board of Directors President said in a news release.
The district is asking voters to renew the levy at the same rate approved in 2022, $1.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value. With the renewed levy and a refinanced bond, the estimated school tax cost would be about $35 less per month for an $800,000 home when the levy takes effect from 2027 through 2030.
Those savings are partly due to the refinancing of the Hockinson Middle School bond. In 2026, payments on the bonds are set to decrease after refinancing at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayers about $1.3 million in interest over the bonds' remaining life. The bond cost $1.39 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2025 and dropped to $0.63 starting this year.
“We are definitely aware of the responsibility that comes with this support and will continue to be careful stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars,” Steve Marshall, Superintendent of Hockinson
School District, said in a news release. “This levy was placed well below the state maximum, which I think in part demonstrates that awareness. Moving forward, our plan is to stay true to ‘The Hockinson Way’ by continuing to look for grants and efficiencies as we maintain the programs and services our students need and our community expects.”
The Clark County Auditor’s Office counted 33,496 ballots cast among voters registered within the school districts participating in the special election as of Thursday. Turnout stood at 39%, with 86,698 residents eligible to vote. The election will be certified Feb. 20.
