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 facilities.
  • At Grant Elementary, more than 40% of student - including all third- and fourth-graders and life skills students - learn in portable classrooms.
  • At Parkway Intermediate approximately 20% of the school's students are taught in portable classrooms.
     
• 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

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

Even with the proposed bond and a potential future bond to finish the high school, total school tax rates are projected to remain lower than historical rates.

 

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.
• 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.

 

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

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 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, 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 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.

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.