Renew the levy, protect what works | Column

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 30, 2026

By Gil Taran

Elementary school parent

Lopez Island takes care of its own. That’s how this community has operated for generations, clear even to relative newcomers. And this August, voters have a chance to prove it again by renewing the Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy.

Lopez voters have approved this same levy consistently since at least 1992 — often by wide margins. That consistency reflects something important: a shared recognition that strong schools require steady, local support. We’re being asked to protect something that works.

Here’s what’s at stake: State funding falls short of what it costs to run our school. More than 10% of the operating budget comes from this levy. That’s the difference between a school nurse and no onsite medical support, between AP classes and empty slots on a course list, between para-educators in the classroom and a round of layoffs. It pays for teachers, substitutes, the librarian, maintenance and utilities. The essentials.

After the McCleary decision, the state capped how much local funding schools can raise. Districts like ours have less room to maneuver, even as costs climb. This levy is load-bearing.

The concern about fixed incomes is real and legitimate. Renewal keeps taxes where they already are. A “no” vote cuts the budget. Positions go. Programs go. Services our students depend on will go, too.

Our school remains a central part of island life. Even for those without children in the system, it supports the strength, stability and long-term vitality of Lopez Island. It protects our property values, anchors our community, and signals that Lopez is a place worth putting down roots.

A “yes” vote this August helps ensure that continues.