OTHELLO — Othello School District will place a capital projects levy on the February 2027 ballot. The district’s Board of Directors approved the resolution 4-0 on Monday. Board President Lindsy Prows was absent.
The levy would impose a new tax of $0.97 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Over six years, the district estimates the levy will provide more than $22 million in revenue for school maintenance and construction projects.
The approved ballot language states: “This proposition would authorize the District to levy the following excess taxes on all taxable property within the District to replace aging food service facilities, expand elementary gymnasiums for student/community use, replace aging roofs, and make other safety and building preservation improvements.”
Unlike construction bonds, which require a 60 percent supermajority to pass, capital projects levies only require 50 percent +1 vote.
In earlier deliberations, the District discussed the pros and cons of making substantial improvements or expansion to Othello High School. The district would like to eventually build a new high school on property east of 14th Ave., which the district already owns. That matter would be up to voters in a later, more substantial bond measure.
If voters were to approve a bond for new school construction within 6 years, the district says it will stop collecting the capital projects levy funds.
Othello School District enrollment has slowly declined since 2020, straining the district’s general fund.
The levy isn’t the only tax increase local governments are asking voters to approve in 2027. The City of Othello will place annexation into Adams County Fire District 5 on the April 2027 ballot. If approved, the annexation would add $0.90 per $1,000 of assessed property value to property owners’ bills.
The city is exploring ways to mitigate some of the impact of that increase. However, they are also looking into ways to raise revenue to repair and reopen the Othello Community Pool, which would be another tax burden for property owners. A recent presentation to the Othello City Council estimated that repairing the pool in its current footprint will cost over $6.5 million.
