NEW 2018 Property Tax Levies

The People have Spoken!!! Voter-Approved Levies for Tax Year 2018

For more information on the New State Levy, please click here. 

  1. State-Part 2: Funds K-12
  2. Orcas School-Prop 1
  3. Orcas School-Prop 2
  4. Lopez -  Waste Disposal 
  5. Lopez Hospital-Prop 1

"The McCleary Case" Background

In 2007, a lawsuit was filed on behalf Matthew and Stephanie McCleary. The suit (known as the “McCleary Case”) alleged that the State of Washington failed to meet the state constitution "to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders."  In 2012, Washington Supreme Court ruled that the State was not adequately funding basic education (K – 12). The Court ordered the State to fully fund basic education. 

The State legislature determined that the best way to generate revenue to fully fund basic education was through the taxation of property. To this end, a new levy was created called “State Levy – Part 2”. 

Advisory Vote No.18

The State legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, an additional state property tax for common schools, costing $12,949,000,000 in the first ten years, for government spending.

The voters in San Juan County, along with the State of Washington, agreed to MAINTAIN the tax increase. 

Actual 2018 Rate: $1.02340 per $1,000 of Assessed Value (Example: If your property is assessed at $400,000 then the tax amount will be $409.36.)

Tax Code Areas (TCA) Impacted: All tax code areas are impacted. 

How will this increased rate affect property tax for different groups who already qualify for a tax exemption? 

  • Senior citizens and disabled persons (RCW 84.36.381) – not affected
  • Nonprofit organizations (RCW 84.36) – not affected
  • Exempt properties (RCW 84.36) – not affected
  • Farm and machinery equipment (RCW 84.36.630) – not affected

Additional Information:

Funding Education

State School Levy Property Tax Tip Sheet

How funding education will impact your property tax bill?

Final Bill Report EHB 2242