2026 Bond Frequently Asked Questions

A school bond is a way for a community to borrow money to build or repair schools. When voters approve a bond, it allows a district to borrow money and repay it over many years through property taxes - similar to a home mortgage.

A bond is different from a levy both in its purpose and how the funds are used:

Purpose:

Bond: Bonds are used for capital projects, such as building new schools, making major renovations to existing facilities or making large, long-term investments in infrastructure.

Levy: Levies are used to fund day-to-day operational expenses of a school district. This includes things like teacher training, educational programs, technology and maintenance of facilities.

How Funds Are Raised:

Bond: Bonds are like loans. The school district borrows money to pay for large projects and then repays that debt over time, usually 10-30 years, through property taxes. Bonds also require voter approval.

Levy: Levies are funded through property taxes, and they need voter approval. They are typically short-term (lasting a few years) and must be renewed by voters. Locally approved levies unlock levy equalization funds from the state. These funds are provided to districts that have passed local levies and have below average property valuations.

Remember: Bonds are for Buildings, Levies are for Learning

School districts only receive enough state and local funding to run schools day-to-day - not to build or modernize them. 

Bonds are the community's tool to pay for big construction projects, like replacing old buildings, improving safety and adding space.

The Ephrata School District is asking voters to consider a $75 million, 25-year bond in February 2026. If approved, the bond would:

• REPLACE Grant Elementary
• REPLACE Parkway Intermediate
• PARTIALLY RENOVATE AND ADD TO Ephrata High School (EHS), including REPLACING the EHS Performing Arts Center (PAC)

This bond provides local funding needed to unlock an additional ~$27.4 Million from the state.

 

Grant Elementary Replacement Project Details

Parkway Intermediate Replacement Project Details

EHS Partial Renovation and Expansion Project Details

Our schools need updates to stay safe, modern and ready for the next 40 years of learning. This bond would fund renovations to improve the following challenges:

• Many Students in Portables: Hundreds of students are learning in temporary classrooms that lack the amenities, space and safety of permanent school buildings.
  • Currently, at Grant Elementary, 188 of 451 students - 42% of all 8- and 9-year-olds - learn in portables. 
  • At Parkway, the impact is even greater: 225 of 417 students, nearly 54% are currently in portables for a portion of their day.

• Costly Repairs in Aging Buildings: Our older schools require frequent, expensive repairs to remain functional. 
   
• Lack of Space: 
  • Ephrata High School was built to accommodate approximately 600 students. Today, more than 900 students walk the halls at EHS.
  • At Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate, space constraints are currently overcome using temporary, portable classrooms .

GOAL: ALL Students in Safe, Secure and Modern FacilitiesStudents at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Ephrata Middle School are taught in high-quality, modern learning environments. Students and Grant Elementary, Parkway Intermediate do not have the same access to up-to-date classrooms and buildings. EHS lacks needed space.

If approved, construction is planned:

 

Non-Image Description of Construction Timeline Graphic

Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate Replacement Buildings

• Design is anticipated to begin in early 2026 and continue to early 2027.
• Construction is anticipated to begin mid-2027 and continue to late 2028.
• Move-in is anticipated to occur prior to the 2028-2029 school year.

Ephrata High School Partial Renovation and Expansion

• Design is anticipated to begin early 2027 and continue to early 2028.
• Construction is anticipated to begin mid-2028 and continue to late 2029.
• Move-in is anticipated to occur prior to the 2029-2030 school year.

Ephrata has a smaller tax base than many, similarly sized districts. Completing all EHS renovation needs in a single bond would create an unmanageable tax impact. Phased renovation now prevents needing TWO Future bonds later.

The bond package is the result of a two-year, community driven review, involving staff, families, students and residents.

In 2024, Ephrata Schools brought together a "Reimagining Team" to:

• Develop an accurate understanding of where the school district is today and to identify/reimaging the educational facility needs of tomorrow.
• To determine whether a February 2026 or 2027 bond would be best.
• To determine what the yet to be formed "Facility Study Group" should consider  studying prior to the creation of a bond recommendation for consideration by the Ephrata School Board.

Learn about the Reimagining Team Community Group

In 2025, Ephrata Schools created the "Facility Study Group" to:

• Develop an accurate understanding of where the school district is today and to identify/reimaging the educational facility needs of tomorrow.
• Evaluate the current condition, functionality and future needs of school buildings/infrastructure.
• Develop and present a bond package recommendation to the Ephrata School Board that supports long-term student success, accommodates future growth and aligns with the district's educational goals and financial resources.

Learn About the Facility Study Community Group

This is a 25-year bond, designed to pay for long-term improvements while keeping annual costs manageable.

In 2023, The Ephrata School District made the decision to place the remodel of Grant Elementary and the EHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) on-hold due to skyrocketing costs of construction. The two projects were a part of the 2019 voter-approve school construction bond. At that time, the costs of renovations to Grant Elementary alone bid 63 percent higher than budgeted in 2019. Read the 2023 announcement press release.

The chart below shows the commitments met and not met from the 2019 voter-approved bond.

Non-Image Description of Commitments met/not met graphic

• The chart shows commitments met in green, not met in red, not committed in white and not committed but met in green with black stripes.

At Ephrata High School:

• Increase safety & security measures were met
• New classrooms, multi-purpose gyms, enlarging cafeterias and office remodels were not committed
• Renovations to the PAC and PAC Gym were NOT met
• Improvement to the roof was met

At Ephrata Middle School

• Increased safety & security measures, multi-purpose gyms, enlarging cafeterias and roof improvements were met 
• New classrooms and office remodel was not promised, but met

At Parkway Intermediate:

• Increased safety and security measures were met
• Office remodel was not promised, but met

At Columbia Ridge Elementary

• Safety and security measures, new classrooms, multi-purpose gym, enlarging cafeteria, office remodel and roof improvements were met

At Grant Elementary

• Safety and security measures, new classrooms, multi-purpose gym, enlarging cafeteria, office remodel and roof improvements were NOT met

Our Facilities Reimagining Team asked for some of the biggest "lessons learned" following the construction projects associated with the 2019 bond. These are some of those lessons.

Expand Bond Leadership Team

Having the Right People in the Room When Planning, Matters

The Ephrata School District's initial team did not include a construction management firm. Inclusion would have provided a more complete construction plan and potentially caused the district to:

• Construct "new and in lieu*" instead of renovating Columbia Ridge.
• Pick a progressive construction planning process that would allow the district to be more nimble and react to changing scenarios more easily.
  • Flexibility in construction design to adapt to changing needs
  • More flexible construction information up-front to allow for better financial planning.

*New and in lieu = A new building built instead of remodeling an existing building, consistent with cost / benefit analysis

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Increase Transparency

Provide consistent updates on construction to our families, staff and community. Share progress towards commitments and celebrate success and share challenges in real time.

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Eliminate Construction phasing if appropriate

Breaking a project into distinct phases, where construction activities are carried out sequentially, was extremely difficult for our students, staff and community. We will seek to find a different process where each phase is not dependent on the next.

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What we've completed means we can do more with the next bond

Finding and utilizing state match dollars to make our projects go further means that many items that would have been on the next Ephrata School District bond are already complete. We can accomplish more across the district with this next bond.

 

Learn More About the Reimagining Team Process

Rather than summarizing or rating the condition ourselves, the Ephrata School District relies on the State of Washington's official school facilities reporting system: the Information and Condition of Schools (ICOS) reports maintained by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

ICOS is a statewide, web-based inventory and facility condition system that provides detailed information on each school building in the state, including:

• Building age and systems
• Facility condition ratings
• Maintenance and preservation data
• Long-term capital needs
• Comparative analysis across districts

This system is used by OSPI to support major state programs such as the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) and the Asset Preservation Program, which evaluates how well school buildings are being maintained over time.

ICOS provides transparent, third-party data that helps districts understand the current condition of school facilities and future capital needs.

View the full, official ICOS reports for each of the school buildings included in the 2026 Bond proposal using the links below:

Grant Elementary ICOS Report

Parkway Intermediate ICOS Report

EHS Main Building ICOS Report

EHS Beezley Building ICOS Report

EHS PAC Building ICOS Report

 

The current Performing Arts Center can accommodate up to 480 people, but for sell-out performances like Cabaret, seating is limited to 325 to ensure comfort and unobstructed views of the stage.

The new Performing Arts Center will feature permanent auditorium seating with a planned capacity of between 500 and 600. Final seating numbers will be confirmed once the facility's design is complete.

Grant Elementary

Once construction at Ephrata High School is finished, the current Grant Elementary building will be torn down. This approach allows the district to use the classrooms for high school students during EHS construction, minimizing disruption to student learning - a priority the community has expressed. 

Once Grant Elementary is removed, the space will be utilized based on the needs of the district at the time.

Parkway Intermediate

The Parkway building will be retained by the district. Final plans are not yet determined.

Final traffic plans are still in development, and traffic engineers and the city will need to review the area before a detailed design is finalized. There is ample district-owned space to safely manage traffic. 

Yes. The new Parkway Intermediate School will include an outdoor playground and recreation equipment. The exact features are still being decided and may be designed for an older age group than the existing Grant Elementary playground. Details will be finalized during the design process.

No. Analysis shows that relocating Grant Elementary will likely reduce some transportation needs. Currently, some students from the east side of town are bused to Grant Elementary, and some students from the west side are bused to Columbia Ridge. Placing both schools in the same area will shorten the amount of time students are on the bus and likely reduce the amount of time students have to wait before loading the bus.

Additionally, most of Ephrata’s growth is occurring in the northeast portion of town, where the new school will be located, further helping to keep transportation efficient.

For the average Ephrata home valued at $300,000, the bond would cost an estimated $32.67 more per month from 2026 to 2027. This is a tax rate increase of $1.07 per $1,000 of assessed value.

School taxes are estimated to increase from $93.34 per month in 2026 to $126.01 per month in 2027.

Actual costs may be lower if assessed property values grow faster than projected.

Non-Image Description of Estimated Tax Rate Graphic

• Estimated tax rate per $1,000 of Assessed Value (AV)
• Assumes 4% AV growth through 2029, 3% after
• With the proposed bond, total school tax rates remain less than historical rates
• Assumes average Ephrata home = $300,000
• Actual costs may be lower if assessed property values continue to grow faster than current assumptions
• Tax impact is estimated at $32.67 monthly from 2026 to 2027 for the average Ephrata residence

Yes. All bond calculations include both the principal and interest.

When the Ephrata School District estimates bond costs, we include the full cost of borrowing -- just like a homebuyer does when looking at the true cost of a mortgage.

bond vs levy - what's the difference

A bond is like a loan.
The district borrows money up front to build schools and facilities and repays that amount over time, with interest.

A levy is a tax collection.
Levies are collected each year to fund specific programs and daily operations. Because no money is borrowed, there is no interest on a levy.

How the Ephrata bond works

The proposed bond is $75 million repaid over 25 years.

The district will follow a conservative financial plan. Rather than borrowing the full amount at once, bonds are issued only when funds are needed during construction.

This helps limit interest costs.

Just like with personal financing it doesn't make sense to borrow money years before it's needed -- because you would pay interest on money that is simply sitting unused.

Conservative interest estimates

Initial planning forecasts that the bond will be issued in two, equal parts. Based on September 2025 market estimates, rates would be:

Sale Date	Amount	Estimated Rate	Cushioned Rate*
June 2026	$37.5M	4.62%	5.37%
December 2027	$37.5M	4.99%	5.99%

* The district included a 0.75% to 1% interest "cushion" to plan for potential future market increases. If market rates come in lower, and the "cushion" is not needed, taxpayers will see a decrease in the projected total school tax rate.

Here's what that looks like over time

• Bond principal: $75 million
• Estimated total interest over 25 years:
  $89.3 million
• State construction assistance funding:
  $27.4 million

* If market interest rates are stable or declining, interest forecasts would be reduced to $69.6 million or lower depending on market conditions.

What this means for taxpayers

We anticipate tax rates will increase from $3.59 in 2026 to approximately $4.66 per $1,000 of assessed value from 2027 through 2038.

For the average $300,000 Ephrata home, this equals about $32.67 per month.

These rates and the equated monthly amount will be significantly lower if the "cushion" is not needed.

How this compares to a home loan

A bond works much like a home mortgage, but with lower tax-exempt rates.

For example, in December 2025

• A $300,000 home loan for 30 years at 6% interest
• Results in about $347,500 in interest alone
• Meaning the homeowner pays more in interest than the original loan.

Long-term borrowing naturally includes interest -- whether for a home or for building schools.

Why this matters

BY:

• Selling bonds only when needed
• Using conservative interest projections
• And receiving $27.4 million in state funding

The district is working to keep costs as low, stable and predictable as possible for local taxpayers.

Non-Image Description of Bond Principal and interest Graphic

• Bar chart showing the 2026 Bond principal and interest costs
• The total cost of the 2026 Bond Proposal is $102 million. $75 million generated locally and approximately $27.4 million in state assistance fund. 
• Project interest to be paid on this amount is approximately $89 million over 25 years. 
• Principal and interest costs are included in taxpayer rates show in district materials.

Non-Image Description of Bond Principal and interest Graphic

• Bar chart showing the average Ephrata home mortgage and principal and interest costs.
• Assumes December 2025 interest rates of 6% on a 30-year mortgage for a $300,000 home.
• Mortgage cost: $300,000
• Interest costs: $347,500 paid over 30-years

School taxes can include:

• Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levies (10% of Ephrata Schools' operating budget)
  • In Ephrata, the current 2025 EP&O Levy tax collection ends in 2029
  • A replacement EP&O Levy is planned for 2029
• Transportation Levies
  • No current levy. 
  • No future levy planned.
• Capital Levies
  • Current 2022 Levy tax collection ends in 2026
  • No future levy planned.
• Bonds
  • Current Bond tax collection ends in 2038
  • 2026 Bond and Potential 2038 bond planned

 

Non-Image Description of Combined Rate Chart

Rates are estimated per $1,000 if assessed property value and assume 4% AV growth in 2026-2029 and 3% after

• Orange bars show Past, Current and Needed Future EP&O Levy amounts.
• Dark grey bars show the current, vote-approved bond.
• Light grey bars show an ending, voter-approved Capital Levy.
• White bars show a concluded, voter approved Transportation Levy. 
• Black bars show the proposed 2026 bond amounts. 
• Yellow bars show a Potential Future Bond.
• List of numbers, not colored, shows the total combined tax rate for Ephrata Schools, historical and anticipated, 2015 - 2040.
• Estimated combined school tax rates (assumes a probable future bond):
  • $3.59 in 2026
  • ~$4.66 in 2027 - 2040

Total school tax rates, which include principal and interest payments, are projected to remain lower than historical tax rates.

 

Non-Image Description of Combined Rate Chart

Projected Tax Rates Lower Than Past Years. Colorful bar chart shows total combined tax rates for all, historical, Ephrata School District voter-approved taxes and future, projected taxes. 

• Orange bars show Past, Current and Needed Future EP&O Levy amounts. From 2015-2018, EP&O Levy rates alone, without any other types of taxes, averaged $4.86. In future years, the district projects a consistent EP&O rate of $1.85 though 2040.
• Dark grey bars show the current, vote-approved bond. From 2027-2029 there is a visible "step down" in rates, which was planned to allow for the addition of a future bond for school construction.
• Light grey bars show an ending, voter-approved Capital Levy. This levy paid for a new storage building, technology and safety improvements, new athletic field lights and renovations to the district's Transportation and Maintenance Building. Collection of this levy tax ends in 2026.
• White bars show a concluded, voter approved Transportation Levy. Collection of this levy tax ended in 2024 and purchased four yellow school buses.
• Black bars show the proposed 2026 bond amounts. As with the current bond, a visible "step down" in rates can be seen in 2039 and 2040 to allow for the addition of a future bond to complete the needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• Yellow bars show a Potential Future Bond. This bond, based on long-term financial planning is anticipated to complete needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• From the years 2027 - 2040, the average total combined tax rate is $4.66, which is lower than the average of years 2015-2018 where EP&O Levy rates alone averaged $4.86.

 

The Ephrata School District:

• Estimated rates are per $1,000 of Assessed Property Value (AV)
• Rates assume 4% AV growth through 2029 and 3% after, which is conservative

• New construction will likely lower estimated rates.
• More growth means more property owners, so each pays less tax.
• On average, new construction accounted for 45% of assessed value growth from 2005-2025.

Former Ephrata School District leaders and community members planned for the future when they planned our current bond. They created a "step down" in rates, to allow for the addition of a future bond for school construction. Shown in the chart below, tax rates drop between 2027 and 2029, allowing space for a new school construction bond.

Non-Image Description of Combined Rate Chart

Projected Tax Rates Lower Than Past Years. Colorful bar chart shows total combined tax rates for all, historical, Ephrata School District voter-approved taxes and future, projected taxes. 

• Orange bars show Past, Current and Needed Future EP&O Levy amounts. From 2015-2018, EP&O Levy rates alone, without any other types of taxes, averaged $4.86. In future years, the district projects a consistent EP&O rate of $1.85 though 2040.
• Dark grey bars show the current, vote-approved bond. From 2027-2029 there is a visible "step down" in rates, circled in green. This step-down was planned to allow for the addition of a future bond for school construction.
• Light grey bars show an ending, voter-approved Capital Levy. This levy paid for a new storage building, technology and safety improvements, new athletic field lights and renovations to the district's Transportation and Maintenance Building. Collection of this levy tax ends in 2026.
• White bars show a concluded, voter approved Transportation Levy. Collection of this levy tax ended in 2024 and purchased four yellow school buses.
• Black bars show the proposed 2026 bond amounts. As with the current bond, a visible "step down" in rates can be seen in 2039 and 2040 to allow for the addition of a future bond to complete the needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• Yellow bars show a Potential Future Bond. This bond, based on long-term financial planning is anticipated to complete needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• From the years 2027 - 2040, the average total combined tax rate is $4.66, which is lower than the average of years 2015-2018 where EP&O Levy rates alone averaged $4.86.

In 2023, The Ephrata School District made the decision to place the remodel of Grant Elementary and the EHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) on-hold due to skyrocketing costs of construction. The two projects were a part of the 2019 voter-approve school construction bond. At that time, the costs of renovations to Grant Elementary alone bid 63 percent higher than budgeted in 2019. Read the 2023 announcement press release.

The Ephrata School Board decided to defease the roughly $6.2 million in state matching funds from the uncompleted projects. A bond defeasance is a process that sets aside and invests unspent bond funding in escrow to ensure that the principle and interest payments on the bonds are guaranteed and can be made when the bonds come due. This action leads to the reduction of future tax amounts. Read the 2023 public hearing press release.

In the chart below, the impact from the defeasance process is visible in the years 2029 - 2038 where tax rates are lower than originally expected.

 

Non-Image Description of Combined Rate Chart

Projected Tax Rates Lower Than Past Years. Colorful bar chart shows total combined tax rates for all, historical, Ephrata School District voter-approved taxes and future, projected taxes. 

• Orange bars show Past, Current and Needed Future EP&O Levy amounts. From 2015-2018, EP&O Levy rates alone, without any other types of taxes, averaged $4.86. In future years, the district projects a consistent EP&O rate of $1.85 though 2040.
• Dark grey bars show the current, vote-approved bond. From 2027-2029 there is a visible "step down" in rates, which was planned to allow for the addition of a future bond for school construction. The green circle shows the years impacted by the defeasance process, which lowered anticipated tax rates for the years 2029 - 2039.
• Light grey bars show an ending, voter-approved Capital Levy. This levy paid for a new storage building, technology and safety improvements, new athletic field lights and renovations to the district's Transportation and Maintenance Building. Collection of this levy tax ends in 2026.
• White bars show a concluded, voter approved Transportation Levy. Collection of this levy tax ended in 2024 and purchased four yellow school buses.
• Black bars show the proposed 2026 bond amounts. As with the current bond, a visible "step down" in rates can be seen in 2039 and 2040 to allow for the addition of a future bond to complete the needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• Yellow bars show a Potential Future Bond. This bond, based on long-term financial planning is anticipated to complete needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• From the years 2027 - 2040, the average total combined tax rate is $4.66, which is lower than the average of years 2015-2018 where EP&O Levy rates alone averaged $4.86.

The Ephrata School District is called “property poor” because its total property tax base is relatively low compared to other districts. In Washington State, local property taxes fund part of public schools, and the amount a district can raise locally depends on the total assessed value of taxable property—homes, businesses and land—within its boundaries.

Being “property poor” means:

• Lower total property values: The combined assessed value of all taxable property is lower than in other districts.
• Limited local revenue capacity: Even with higher tax rates, the district generates less local funding than property-rich districts.

This does not mean the district has fewer needs or provides lower-quality services—it simply has less ability to raise local funds without higher tax rates.

Example (2025 data):

• Ephrata School District: $1.53 billion total taxable value*
• Quincy School District: $8.09 billion total taxable value*

*Source: Grant County Assessor Website (Ephrata School District = School #165, Quincy School District = School #144)

Quincy’s total taxable assessed value is about 5.27 times greater than Ephrata's. This means Quincy can generate the same amount of local school funding with a much lower tax rate.

Impact of rates assuming the assessed value ratio remains similar:

• Ephrata projects a total school tax rate of $4.66 per $1,000 of assessed value (in ‘27 if bond passes)
• Quincy would need only about $0.88 per $1,000 of assessed value to generate the same local funding

This comparison helps explain why school tax rates are higher in Ephrata and why property-rich districts, like Quincy, can often fund similar or greater projects with lower tax rates.

The Ephrata School District actively looks for grants that could help, but current opportunities don’t come close to covering the large costs of projects like these. Most available grants, including those publicized by OSPI, are aimed at specific repairs or emergency work. 

There are small-school grants for districts with fewer than 1,000 students. With roughly 2,800 students, Ephrata is too large to qualify. At the same time, the district’s property base is too small to fund major facility projects on its own, leaving school construction assistance funding from the state as the largest source of outside funding available for these needs.

The district will continue to explore grant opportunities, but state school construction assistance is currently the primary funding source for significant school construction projects.

YES! The School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) is Washington state's way of helping school districts pay for major construction projects, like building or renovating schools. It recognizes that local communities can't shoulder the full cost of school construction on their own.

 

How it Works

• When voters approve a school construction bond, the state contributes additional funding through SCAP.
• The amount is based on:
  • The age and condition of the buildings
  • The district's enrollment
  • The community's ability to pay for construction (tax base)

Think of it as a matching contribution form the state to make local dollars go further.

Why it matters

• Reduces the cost to local taxpayers: SCAP funding covers a portion of the project, lowering the amount the district must collect through local bonds.
• Helps ensure fairness: Communities with smaller tax bases - like Ephrata - receive more assistance so all students, no matter where they live, have access to safe and modern schools.
• Allows projects to move forward sooner: Without SCAP, many districts would not be able to afford essential repairs or replacements.

SCAP helps pay for school construction so local taxpayers don't have to cover the full cost. It ensures students across Washington learn in safe, up-to-date buildings - even in communities where construction costs would otherwise be out of reach.

The process to return unspent dollars from 2019 bond (called defeasance) is separate from the current levy proposal. 

In 2023, the Ephrata School Board approved the defeasement of the $6.2 million of state match monies remaining from the 2018 bond. Bond defeasement is a process that sets aside and invests the remaining bond dollars in escrow to ensure that the principle and interest payments on the bonds are guaranteed and can be made when the bonds come due. 

It is estimated that taxpayers will save roughly $8.1 million in taxes over the next 15 years. This translates to between $.16 and $.48 per $1,000 of assessed value, depending on the year. 

For more information about the bond defeasance process undertaken by Ephrata Schools, explore the following resources:

Press Release: Grant Elementary Improvements On Hold - School District Seeks to Defease Remaining Bond Dollars

Press Release: Ephrata School District to Host Public Hearing on Bond Defeasance

School Board Highlights: School Board Approves Defeasement of Remaining Bond Dollars

2019 Bond Frequently Asked Questions

Voters last approved a bond for Ephrata School District construction projects in 2019.

2019 Bond and Levy

February 10, 2026

The 2019 bond was originally approved for $27.89 million in local funds and included:

• Safety and security upgrades (lighting, fencing, video systems, secure doors)
• Eight new, permanent classrooms at Columbia Ridge Elementary
• New multi-purpose gyms at Columbia Ridge Elementary, Ephrata Middle School (EMS) and Grant Elementary
• Expanded cafeterias at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Grant Elementary
• Office remodels at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Grant Elementary
• Renovations to the Ephrata High School (EHS) Performing Arts Center (PAC) and PAC Gym
• Roofs at Columbia Ridge Elementary, EMS and EHS

Shortly after the bond passed, the district hired an architect and project management firm that discovered the district qualified for additional state matching funds. These $53.9 million in state dollars brought increased the total bond amount to $81.79 million, which allowed the district to design full school renovations for Columbia Ridge, EMS and Grant Elementary while completing all projects in the proposed bond.

The chart below shows the commitments met and not met from the 2019 voter-approved bond.

Non-Image Description of Commitments met/not met graphic

• The chart shows commitments met in green, not met in red, not committed in white and not committed but met in green with black stripes.

At Ephrata High School:

• Increase safety & security measures were met
• New classrooms, multi-purpose gyms, enlarging cafeterias and office remodels were not committed
• Renovations to the PAC and PAC Gym were NOT met
• Improvement to the roof was met

At Ephrata Middle School

• Increased safety & security measures, multi-purpose gyms, enlarging cafeterias and roof improvements were met 
• New classrooms and office remodel was not promised, but met

At Parkway Intermediate:

• Increased safety and security measures were met
• Office remodel was not promised, but met

At Columbia Ridge Elementary

• Safety and security measures, new classrooms, multi-purpose gym, enlarging cafeteria, office remodel and roof improvements were met

At Grant Elementary

• Safety and security measures, new classrooms, multi-purpose gym, enlarging cafeteria, office remodel and roof improvements were NOT met

 

Roughly $6.2 million of state matching funds remain from the Columbia Ridge Elementary and Ephrata Middle School projects.

Washington's school construction rules require districts to spend all local bond dollars first before any state matching funds can be used. Because the $27.89 million in local 2019 bond funds were invested in completing Columbia Ridge and EMS, the remaining dollars are state match only, not unused local bond money.

The Ephrata School Board elected to defease the remaining dollars to lower the impact of the 2019 bond on taxpayers.

What does it mean to "defease" a bond?

Defeasance is a process that sets aside and invests the remaining bond dollars in escrow to ensure that principle and interest payments are guaranteed and can be made when bonds come due. By defeasing $6.2 million in remaining bond funds, the school district projects taxpayers will save roughly $8.1 million in taxes over 15 years. This translates to a reduction of $0.16 to $0.48 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, depending on the year.

Read the 2023 public hearing press release.

In the chart below, the impact from the defeasance process is visible in the years 2029 - 2038 where tax rates are lower than originally expected.

 

Non-Image Description of Combined Rate Chart

Projected Combined Rates Lower Than Past Years. Colorful bar chart shows total combined tax rates for all, historical, Ephrata School District voter-approved taxes and future, projected taxes. 

• Orange bars show Past, Current and Needed Future EP&O Levy amounts. From 2015-2018, EP&O Levy rates alone, without any other types of taxes, averaged $4.86. In future years, the district projects a consistent EP&O rate of $1.85 though 2040.
• Dark grey bars show the current, vote-approved bond. From 2027-2029 there is a visible "step down" in rates, which was planned to allow for the addition of a future bond for school construction. The green circle shows the years impacted by the defeasance process, which lowered anticipated tax rates for the years 2029 - 2039.
• Light grey bars show an ending, voter-approved Capital Levy. This levy paid for a new storage building, technology and safety improvements, new athletic field lights and renovations to the district's Transportation and Maintenance Building. Collection of this levy tax ends in 2026.
• White bars show a concluded, voter approved Transportation Levy. Collection of this levy tax ended in 2024 and purchased four yellow school buses.
• Black bars show the proposed 2026 bond amounts. As with the current bond, a visible "step down" in rates can be seen in 2039 and 2040 to allow for the addition of a future bond to complete the needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• Yellow bars show a Potential Future Bond. This bond, based on long-term financial planning is anticipated to complete needed renovations at Ephrata High School.
• From the years 2027 - 2040, the average total combined tax rate is $4.66, which is lower than the average of years 2015-2018 where EP&O Levy rates alone averaged $4.86.

Ephrata Schools received a total of $53.9 million in state matching funds for projects across the school district. Dollars received for projects that have yet to be completed stay with each school / building until work begins. These dollars may only be used for these buildings.

School Funding Breakdown Time of 2019 Bond

School	Eligible Match*	Used	Amount Remaining
Columbia Ridge	$13,063,193	$23,629,994	$6,200,000
EMS	$16,766,801
Grant Elementary	$9,531,694	$0	$24,093,690
Beezley	$5,881,436
EHS Performing Arts Center	$8,680,560

 

 

 

 

*Ephrata School District was eligible for these dollars at the time of the projects. These funds amounts have changed as state funding evolved.

The district anticipates $27.4 million in state matching funds to support the replacement of Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate schools and the renovation and addition to Ephrata High School, which includes building a new Performing Arts Center.

After design work began, the pandemic triggered historic construction cost inflation. 

• Prices for labor and materials rose sharply nationwide.
• Costs outpaced even the expanded 2019 bond dollars.
• Grant Elementary and the Performing Arts Center (PAC) became too expensive to construct without overextending tax dollars. 

The district made the decision to:

• Complete the projects already underway.
• Pause Grant Elementary and the PAC as they became financially unrealistic.
• Defease the remaining state match dollars to lower the impact of the 2019 bond on taxpayers. (See "How Much of 2019 Bond is Left" for more information on defeasance.