Let’s Talk Real Numbers

Levies and taxes can be confusing, especially when costs keep rising. I understand why voters want to know how a levy will actually affect their household budget. Here’s how I calculated the real cost for my family before deciding how to vote on the Shoreline School District EP&O and Technology Levies on the February 10, 2026 ballot.

Step 1: Enter your address here on the county assessor’s website to find your assessed property value.

Step 2: Scroll to your tax history and note the “Taxable Total” for each year. Look at how that number has gone up or down over time.

Step 3: Dividing “Taxable Total” by 1,000, then multiply by the corresponding levy rate for that year. This shows how much you’ve already paid to the school district for that year.

Future property values are unknown, so estimates matter. In my case, my assessed value has gone up 7.5% one year and down 14% another year. Remember, we are not voting on property values; those are outside our control.

If my property value stays the same (I don’t expect it to, but I’m using this as a way to estimate my future expenses), the replacement EP&O and Tech levies would cost my household $157.37 more per year from 2027–2030. Claims that homeowners will pay “thousands more” are misleading. Compare what you paid from 2023–2026 to what you may pay from 2027–2030. The current average levy rate is $3.23 per $1,000 of assessed property value, while the proposed replacement average rate is $3.16.

Personally, I’m willing to pay under $200 more per year to support smaller class sizes, student supports, extracurriculars, and updated technology for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park students. My goal is simply to help families understand the real-world costs before voting.

Malorie Larson
Shoreline

Editor’s note: Larson is among the authors of the statements in favor of (and the rebuttal to the statement against) the levies; those statements can be found in the February 10 Special Election voter guide.

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