Is the North Mason levy a new tax?

No. It's a replacement for an EP&O levy that voters approved in 2022 and expired at the end of 2025. Washington state requires voter approval to continue it.

What does the North Mason levy fund?

Music programs, middle and high school athletics, school security officers at NMHS and North Mason Middle School, after-school activities, and partial funding toward gym roof replacement.

What happens if the North Mason levy fails again?

Deeper cuts to music, athletics, security officers, and after-school programs. The district has already made staff reductions after the 2025 levy failures.

How much does the North Mason levy cost a homeowner?

For a home assessed around $450,000, approximately $200-$250 per year. Check your specific assessed value at the Mason County Assessor's office.

North Mason’s Third Levy Vote Is April 28 — Here’s Everything Belfair Needs to Know

Q: When is the voter registration deadline for the April 28 election?

April 20, 2026. Register at VoteWA.gov or the Mason County Auditor's office.

North Mason voters are heading back to the ballot box on April 28, and this time, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. The North Mason School District is asking voters to approve a replacement levy for the third time — after narrowly failing in February 2025 and again in November 2025. Ballots are mailing now. The due date is April 28. The voter registration deadline is April 20.

This isn’t a new tax. It’s a replacement for an EP&O (Educational Programs and Operations) levy that voters approved in 2022 and expired at the end of 2025. But because the replacement failed twice, the district has been operating without that revenue since January — and it’s showing.

What the Levy Pays For

The proposed levy would authorize up to $5.5 million per year for four years to fund programs and services that state funding does not cover. Specifically:

Music programs at North Mason High School and middle school
Middle school and high school athletics
School security officers at NMHS and North Mason Middle School
After-school activities and enrichment programs
Partial funding toward replacement of the aging North Mason community gymnasium roof

These aren’t extras. In North Mason, like most Washington school districts, state funding pays for basic classroom instruction — and essentially nothing else. The levy is what keeps music in the building, sports on the schedule, and safety staff in the hallways.

The Crisis Behind the Vote

After two levy failures, Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael — who took over from Dr. Dana Rosenbach on July 1, 2025 — has been managing an increasingly difficult financial picture. Lower-than-projected enrollment has already created an estimated $1 million-plus budget shortfall, forcing staff reductions even before accounting for the full impact of the missing levy revenue. In late March 2026, the district submitted an emergency cash request, with Michael describing the situation to the Mason County Journal as “squeezing every dollar.”

The district will bring specific information about program staffing impacts to a board meeting in April — but the direction of travel is clear. Without levy revenue, cuts compound.

Why the Previous Votes Failed — and What’s Different This Time

The February 2025 levy received approximately 46.2% support — close, but short of the simple majority required under Washington state law. The November 2025 attempt also fell short. The district formed a levy committee ahead of the November run; community advocates are making another push ahead of April 28.

What’s different this time: the consequences are no longer theoretical. Staff have already been reduced. Programs are already being evaluated for cuts. North Mason voters have seen what “no” looks like in practice.

The Timeline That Matters

Now: Ballots are mailing to registered Mason County voters
April 14: Future Cougar Night at Sand Hill Elementary (791 NE Sand Hill Rd, Belfair) for families with kids entering kindergarten fall 2026 — a chance to see what the school community looks like
April 20: Last day to register to vote in Mason County for this election
April 28: Ballot due date — return by mail or drop it at the Mason County Auditor’s office

For Newcomers: What North Mason Schools Actually Are

North Mason School District (NMSD) serves Belfair, Allyn, Tahuya, and the broader North Mason area. The district runs Sand Hill Elementary, Belfair Elementary, North Mason Middle School, and North Mason High School (home of the Bulldogs). NMHS sits at 100 E Campus Dr in Belfair. The district is relatively small — lower-than-projected enrollment is precisely why a flat-rate levy creates such an outsized impact on the budget.

What a Yes Vote Means for Your Neighbor

The kid in North Mason who plays trombone or runs varsity track or needs a security officer to feel safe in the hallway — these programs exist because of levy funding. When levies fail, it’s not administrators who feel it first. It’s students. Belfair’s school community has already absorbed cuts. The April 28 vote determines whether that continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a new tax or a renewal?

It’s a replacement levy — replacing one that was previously approved by North Mason voters and expired at the end of 2025. State law requires voter approval to continue it.

How much would this cost a typical North Mason homeowner?

EP&O levy rates are set per $1,000 of assessed property value. The district authorizes up to $5.5 million per year; the actual per-home cost depends on your assessed value. For a typical North Mason home assessed around $450,000, the annual levy cost would be roughly $200–$250/year — but verify with the Mason County Assessor for your specific parcel.

When do I need to register to vote?

The voter registration deadline for the April 28 election is April 20, 2026. Register online at VoteWA.gov or at the Mason County Auditor’s office.

Where do I drop off my ballot in Belfair?

The Mason County Auditor’s office ballot drop box is in Shelton. There is also a drop box in Belfair — check the Mason County Auditor’s website (masoncountywa.gov/departments/auditor) for the current drop box locations nearest to you.

What programs have already been cut because of the levy failures?

The district has reduced staff due to lower enrollment and revenue shortfalls. Superintendent Michael indicated in April 2026 that she would bring specific program-level staffing details to the board — follow NMSD board meetings for the latest updates.

What happens if the levy fails again?

Deeper cuts to the programs listed above: music, athletics, security officers, after-school activities. The district would also face mounting pressure on the gym roof and other deferred capital needs that the levy was intended to partially address.

Where can I find official levy information?

Visit northmasonschools.org/page/levy-info or attend a North Mason School District board meeting. The Mason County Journal (masoncounty.com) has covered each levy attempt in detail.