Category: Belfair Living

After two consecutive defeats at the ballot box, North Mason School District’s replacement levy appears to have turned a corner. Ballot tallies from the April 28 special election that initially showed the measure trailing reversed course in later counts — as of April 30, the Shelton-Mason County Journal reported the levy appears to pass.

The Mason County Canvassing Board is scheduled to certify the results on May 8, making this week the pivotal moment for North Mason families, teachers, and students who have been watching this vote closely since last February.

What’s at Stake

The replacement levy — $18.9 million over the 2027–2030 period — funds programs that sit outside the state’s basic education formula: high school athletics (including the Bulldogs’ active spring baseball, softball, soccer, and golf programs), music and fine arts, Advanced Placement courses, and school security officers. District leadership had already identified $1.3 million in cuts and eliminated two administrative positions in an effort to reduce the ask and bring voters onboard.

If the canvassing board certifies a “yes” on May 8, those cuts stay on the shelf. If it flips back, a fourth ballot run is the only path forward.

A Cautious Week for the District

North Mason Superintendent Kristine Michael was cautiously optimistic following the April 30 count update. The district has kept communication measured — no victory laps until the canvassing board signs off. For our community, that means one more week of waiting before anyone calls it official.

Ballots mailed before April 28 were still being processed through the week following election night, which is standard practice in Washington’s all-mail election system. If you mailed a ballot before the deadline and haven’t confirmed it was accepted, check your status at the Mason County Auditor’s website.

Bulldogs Heading Toward the Finish Line

The school year itself is wrapping up. NMHS spring sports teams are in the final stretch — the baseball team played at Olympic High School on May 5, and golfers Mari Morris and Jackson Bergdahl recently competed at the state championship. On the calendar: NMHS Class of 2026 graduation is set for Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at North Mason High School. Doors open at 6 p.m. No tickets are required — the whole community is invited.

Why This Vote Matters Beyond the Classroom

For Belfair and North Mason, this levy isn’t abstract budget language. It’s whether your kid’s team has a coach this fall. It’s whether the AP class that could earn your junior college credit runs next year. Results — official ones — arrive May 8.

For 44 years, a small building at 24131 NE State Route 3 has been one of the most important addresses in our town. That’s home to the North Mason Food Bank — and if you haven’t needed it yourself, chances are someone you know has.

Founded in 1982, the North Mason Food Bank has been quietly doing the work that neighbors do for neighbors: making sure no one in Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, or Tahuya goes without food. Their mission statement says it plainly — “with dignity and respect, builds community, shares abundance, and nourishes lives” — and the way they operate reflects that. The food bank runs a client-choice shopping model, which means families walk in and select the items they’ll actually use, rather than receiving a pre-packed box. It’s a small but meaningful distinction that treats every visitor as a capable adult making real choices for their household.

If you’ve never stopped in, here’s what to know. The food bank is open three days a week: Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 to 4:45 p.m., and Thursdays from 2 to 5:45 p.m. The building sits right along SR-3 in Belfair, easy to find and easy to access. To speak with someone directly, call (360) 275-4615 or email director@nmfoodbank.org.

The food bank provides more than groceries. Basic hygiene items and referral services are part of what they offer — a recognition that food insecurity rarely arrives alone. For families navigating a tough stretch, that referral piece can be the thread that connects them to housing help, utility assistance, or other support in Mason County.

Volunteers are the backbone of the operation. The food bank actively welcomes new volunteers, and a few hours a week during one of the three open shifts can make a real difference in how smoothly the pantry runs. If you’d like to help, visit northmasonfoodbank.org/volunteer or call (360) 275-4615. There’s no complex application — they genuinely need hands.

The North Mason Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which means donations are tax-deductible. They accept food donations and financial contributions; the website at northmasonfoodbank.org has current information on what’s most needed. The food bank also works with AmpleHarvest.org, connecting local gardeners who have excess produce with the pantry — so if your garden is already outpacing your kitchen, that’s another way to contribute.

Four decades in, the North Mason Food Bank isn’t a temporary fix or an emergency response. It’s part of the permanent fabric of this community — there when people need it, run by neighbors who chose to show up. If you haven’t connected with them yet, now is a good time to do it, whether you’re coming for services, dropping off a donation bag, or signing up for a volunteer shift.

North Mason Food Bank
24131 NE State Route 3, Belfair, WA 98528
Hours: Tuesday 10 a.m.–1:45 p.m. · Wednesday 1–4:45 p.m. · Thursday 2–5:45 p.m.
Phone: (360) 275-4615
Web: northmasonfoodbank.org

If you’ve moved to Belfair, Allyn, Tahuya, or anywhere in North Mason recently — or you’re thinking about it — the school levy result you’ll see in the headlines this week is one of the more revealing data points about the place you’ve landed in.

The North Mason School District levy is leading 53.50% yes (2,130 to 1,851) in early returns from the April 28 election. Certification by the Mason County Canvassing Board is set for May 8, 2026. That sentence on its own probably doesn’t tell you much. The story behind it tells you a lot about how this community works.

Why this vote took three tries

Most school levies in Washington pass the first time. North Mason’s didn’t. The February 2025 measure failed. The November 2025 attempt failed too. By the time the April 28, 2026 measure came up, the district had already cut about $4.5 million from its budget, plus another $1.3 million in pre-vote 2026 reductions, plus two administrative positions.

The community had been signaling something specific across two votes: not “we don’t believe in our schools” but “we don’t trust the ask.” When the district came back at $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value (down from the $1.28 rate on the failed measures), with a smaller administrative footprint and more visible internal cuts, the math changed for enough voters to flip the result.

If you’re new here, that is the texture worth understanding. North Mason is not a community that automatically supports tax increases — but it will support its schools when it believes the district has done its own homework first.

What a “levy” actually is in Washington

In Washington, the state pays for “basic education.” Levies pay for everything else schools actually do — nurses, counselors, safety officers, athletics, music, AP courses, custodians, after-school programs, curriculum materials. So when a Washington school district loses a levy, it is not losing a wishlist; it is losing the staff and programs that make a school feel like a school.

North Mason has been operating without levy funding through 2026. That is unusual in the Puget Sound region. Other districts you may have driven through on the way here — Central Kitsap, North Kitsap, Bremerton, Olympia — have not been navigating this. North Mason has, for more than a year. The April 28 result, if it holds, is the moment the district climbs out of that hole — though programs already cut will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year.

Where this matters for newcomers

Three places. First, if you have school-age kids, this affects what they will and won’t have access to at North Mason High School (the Bulldogs, at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair) and Hawkins Middle School over the next two school years. Second, if you bought a home in the district, the school-funding posture affects the resale signal of your house — the value of stable, supported schools is real even for buyers without kids. Third, even if you have no school-age kids, this is one of the more transparent windows you’ll get into how this community deliberates.

How to read what just happened

The Belfair / North Mason area is small enough that the levy conversation happened in real life — at the Belfair IGA, at the Mary E. Theler Community Center, at Hood Canal property owner meetings, at the schools themselves. There were no slick mailers driving the result. People talked, the district adjusted, voters reconsidered.

That is unusual. In bigger districts, levy outcomes are shaped by media spend and political infrastructure. In North Mason, the outcome looks more like a community working something out at human scale — the same way water-quality decisions, road-funding decisions, and waterfront development decisions tend to play out here.

Welcome to a place that does its civic life this way. It can feel slow if you’re coming from somewhere bigger. It is also one of the things that makes this corner of Hood Canal what it is.

What’s next

The Mason County Canvassing Board reviews challenged ballots on May 7 at 2:00 PM and certifies the election on May 8 at 2:00 PM. The certified result will appear at results.vote.wa.gov. After that, the North Mason School Board — Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas, working with Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael — begins the 2026-27 budget conversation publicly at the district office.

If you’re new and want a way to plug in to your community, that meeting cycle is one of the better entry points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean that a Washington school levy “failed” twice before this one?

It means North Mason has been operating without levy funding since the second 2025 defeat — running on basic-education state dollars only, which do not cover athletics, AP courses, music, school nurses, counselors, or safety staff. The April 2026 measure was the third attempt and is leading.

Why was North Mason’s third levy attempt different from the first two?

The district lowered the rate from $1.28 to $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value, eliminated two administrative positions, and made $1.3 million in additional pre-vote cuts. The community read that as the district doing its own work before asking again, and a meaningful share of 2025 no-voters appear to have switched to yes.

Is North Mason a good school district for someone moving here?

It’s a small, community-rooted district that has been visibly tested and is now stabilizing. The Bulldogs run a full slate of athletics. AP coursework continues. Class sizes are smaller than larger Puget Sound districts. The honest read is that the next two years are about returning to a healthy operating posture, not about expansion.

Where can I find official information about North Mason schools as a newcomer?

The district website is northmasonschools.org. The district office is at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair, (360) 277-2300. Board meeting schedules and public comment information are posted on the site.

How does North Mason compare to Central Kitsap or North Kitsap districts?

It’s substantially smaller and more rural. Central Kitsap and North Kitsap have not faced repeated levy failures. North Mason offers a different feel — closer-to-home, smaller cohorts, more direct community involvement — but with thinner program redundancy than the larger Kitsap districts.

Related coverage: North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified · Newcomer Guide: The April 28 Levy and Why Your Vote Matters in Belfair · Belfair Real Estate 2026

If you own property in North Mason — Belfair, Allyn, Tahuya, Union, or anywhere else inside the school district boundary — the April 28 levy result is now leading, and what happens between now and certification on May 8 will land on your tax bill in 2027.

Here is the practical homeowner framing on the early numbers, the rate, the certification timeline, and what passage actually means for the value of where you live.

What the rate actually is

The April 2026 measure is set at $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value, levied over four years. That is the lowest rate North Mason has put on the ballot in the recent attempts — down from $1.28 per $1,000 on both 2025 measures.

The simple translation:

• $300,000 home: about $25 per month, $303 per year
• $400,000 home: about $33 per month, $404 per year
• $500,000 home: about $42 per month, $505 per year
• $600,000 home: about $50 per month, $606 per year

If you’ve been in your North Mason home for more than a year or two, your assessed value is likely closer to $400,000-$500,000 in the current Mason County assessor cycle. Waterfront and view properties on Hood Canal trend higher.

The current count and what’s left to certify

Combined Mason and Kitsap county totals as of election night: 2,130 yes (53.50%) to 1,851 no (46.50%). Mason County alone — which is where almost all of the district’s voters live — is at 2,089 to 1,808 (53.61% yes). The Kitsap County sliver split 41 to 43 against.

The Mason County Canvassing Board has a challenged-ballot review meeting scheduled for May 7 at 2:00 PM and will certify the election on May 8 at 2:00 PM. Late ballots will continue to be processed through that window. The official tally is at results.vote.wa.gov.

A 53.5% lead is durable but not invulnerable. In Mason County, late-counted ballots have historically drifted slightly more progressive on tax measures, which works in the levy’s favor. Still, the margin is narrow enough that homeowners watching closely should treat May 8 as the real deadline before adjusting any planning.

The property-value question

Here is the part of this conversation that does not get enough airtime in tax-rate debates. North Mason homes do not exist in a vacuum. Buyers compare them to homes in Bremerton, Silverdale, Port Orchard, Shelton, and the Gig Harbor periphery. School district reputation is part of that comparison, even for buyers who do not have children — because they are pricing in resale to the next family who does.

Two consecutive levy defeats and the resulting program cuts had a real, if hard-to-isolate, effect on how North Mason listings looked to buyers comparing districts. School-rating sites flagged the cuts. Realtors had to answer questions. Listings in the district sat slightly longer than they would have in a flush-funding scenario.

A passing levy reverses that signal. It tells the market that this community has decided to stabilize its schools, and that the district will not be forced into another round of visible cuts heading into 2026-27. For a property owner thinking about a 5-to-15-year horizon — which is most North Mason owners — that signal is worth real money on the eventual sale.

What passage doesn’t change for owners

Two things to be clear-eyed about. First, the levy revenue does not arrive at the district until April 2027, so programs already cut will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year. The visible school-side improvements that affect community feel — restored athletics depth, returning AP courses, fuller staffing — are 2027-28 questions at the earliest.

Second, this is a four-year levy, not a permanent funding source. North Mason will be back at the ballot for renewal before this cycle ends. The conversation does not stop on May 8.

What to watch this week

The certification meeting on May 8 at 2:00 PM at the Mason County Auditor’s Office is the deadline that matters. If the lead holds, the levy is in. If you want the formal record of the result for refinancing, listing prep, or an appraisal conversation, that is the date to bookmark. Until then, results are leading — not certified.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will the North Mason levy add to my property tax bill?

The rate is $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value over four years. On a $400,000 home that is about $33 per month or $404 per year. The rate is down from $1.28 on the two failed 2025 measures.

When will the April 28, 2026 levy result be certified?

The Mason County Canvassing Board certifies on May 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM after a challenged-ballot review on May 7. Until then, the 53.50% yes lead is preliminary.

Does a passing school levy actually affect property values in North Mason?

The signal effect is real, even if hard to isolate from other factors. After two defeats and visible program cuts, North Mason listings carried a school-funding cloud that buyers asked about. Passage tells the market that the district is stabilizing, which supports values over a 5-to-15-year hold.

When does the new levy money actually start being collected from homeowners?

If certified, the levy is collected on property tax bills starting in 2027 — meaning the first new line item appears on the statement issued in early 2027 and paid in April and October of that year.

Is this a permanent tax or does it expire?

It expires. The April 2026 measure is a four-year replacement levy. North Mason will return to the ballot before the end of the cycle to renew or replace it.

Related coverage: North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified · Homeowner’s Guide to the April 28 Levy: Cost, Programs, and Why It’s on the Ballot Again · Belfair Real Estate 2026

If you have a kid at North Mason High School or the middle school, the April 28 levy result matters to you in a different way than it does to most other voters in the district — and the leading numbers do not mean what most people are assuming.

The levy is currently passing with 53.50% yes votes (2,130 to 1,851) in combined Mason and Kitsap county totals. The Mason County Auditor will certify the result on May 8, 2026, after the challenged-ballot review on May 7. Until then, results are preliminary.

The honest framing for North Mason parents is this: passage stabilizes the floor. It does not bring back what was already cut, and it does not change anything for the 2026-27 school year that starts in September. Here’s what that actually looks like for your student.

What you should expect for fall 2026 either way

Even if the levy is certified passing, the first revenue does not reach the district until April 2027 at the earliest. That timing is a hard constraint of how Washington school levies work: they are collected on property tax bills the following calendar year.

So the practical answer to “Will my kid’s program be back in September?” is: the programs and positions that were already eliminated — the two administrative positions, the $1.3 million in cuts the district made before the vote, and the roughly $4.5 million cut after the second 2025 defeat — are not coming back for 2026-27. Superintendent Kristine Michael said this publicly before the election: “We would not be in a position to restore programs or positions already reduced.”

What passage does prevent is another round of cuts on top of what already happened. That matters because the 2026-27 budget conversation that starts at the district office at 250 E. Campus Drive will look very different with $18.9 million in incoming levy revenue on the horizon than it would with another defeat.

How North Mason High School students are most directly affected

The North Mason levy historically funds the things most parents associate with a real high school experience: athletics, music, Advanced Placement coursework, school nurses, counselors, safety officers, custodians, and after-school programs. State basic-education dollars do not pay for those — that’s what a levy is for, in every Washington district.

Bulldogs sports have continued through 2025-26, but families have noticed thinner schedules, more parent fundraising for travel and equipment, and tighter coaching budgets. AP course offerings narrowed. Music programs have run on reduced staffing. The full effect of the 2025 cuts has been distributed across the building in ways that compound over the year — and parents who have been paying attention can feel it.

If certification holds, the question for next school year is not “what gets restored” — it is “what does not get cut further.” That is a real win compared to the alternative, but it is a different conversation than the one many yes-voters thought they were having.

The middle school side

At Hawkins Middle School the impact tracks differently. Middle school athletics, after-school activities, and counselor staffing have all been pressured. Younger students who would normally be building toward high school programs are entering a system that has been quietly shrinking for two years.

Passage means that pressure doesn’t get worse. It does not mean middle school programs that were lost are coming back this fall.

What to do this week and this month

Three concrete things parents can do while certification finishes. First, watch the May 8 certification — if the lead holds, the long-term outlook for the district stabilizes. Second, plan to attend or watch the next North Mason School Board meeting, where Superintendent Michael and board members Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas will begin the 2026-27 budget conversation publicly. Third, make peace with the timeline: any restoration of cut programs is a 2027-28 question at the earliest.

Frequently Asked Questions

If the levy passes, will my child’s programs be restored for fall 2026?

No. The first levy revenue arrives no earlier than April 2027, and Superintendent Michael has stated publicly that programs and positions already cut will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year even with passage. Restoration is a 2027-28 question at the earliest.

What North Mason programs were cut after the 2025 levy failures?

The district made roughly $4.5 million in cuts following the second 2025 defeat, and an additional $1.3 million in pre-vote reductions in 2026 along with the elimination of two administrative positions. Cuts have hit athletics, music, AP coursework, support staff, and after-school programming across both the high school and middle school.

When will I know whether the levy actually passed?

The Mason County Canvassing Board certifies the April 28 election on May 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM, after a challenged-ballot review on May 7. Until then, the 53.50% yes lead is preliminary. Track results at results.vote.wa.gov.

Where can North Mason parents weigh in on the 2026-27 budget?

The North Mason School Board meets at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair. Meeting schedules are posted on the district site, and public comment is part of every regular meeting. The first post-election meeting will be the most consequential one for parents to attend.

What does the levy actually cost a North Mason family that owns their home?

The April 2026 rate is $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value — roughly $33 per month on a $400,000 home. That is down from the $1.28 rate on the two 2025 measures.

Related coverage: North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified · North Mason Parents: What the April 28 Levy Means for Your Child’s Programs · North Mason Schools: Ratings & Programs

The North Mason School District levy is leading in early returns from the April 28 special election — a stark reversal after two consecutive defeats and more than a year of program cuts that reshaped what students in Belfair and the Hood Canal corridor get from their schools.

According to the Mason County Auditor, the four-year replacement levy received 2,130 yes votes (53.50%) and 1,851 no votes (46.50%) in the combined Mason and Kitsap county tally as of election night. In Mason County alone — which casts the overwhelming majority of North Mason ballots — the measure leads 2,089 to 1,808 (53.61% yes). In the small Kitsap County portion of the district, the early count showed 41 yes to 43 no.

These are preliminary numbers. Washington is a vote-by-mail state, ballots arrive for days after election day, and nothing is final until certification. The Mason County Canvassing Board has a challenged-ballot review meeting scheduled for May 7 at 2:00 PM and the formal certification meeting on May 8 at 2:00 PM. Track the running total at results.vote.wa.gov.

What changed this time

The district lowered the ask. The April measure requests $18.9 million over four years at a rate of $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value — down from the $1.28 rate that voters rejected twice in 2025. On a $400,000 North Mason home, that is roughly $33 per month, compared with about $43 per month at the prior rate.

The district also eliminated two administrative positions and cut another $1.3 million from the operating budget before the vote — a direct response to community feedback that earlier campaigns had not gone far enough on the spending side. Combined with roughly $4.5 million in cuts that followed the second 2025 defeat, North Mason has trimmed substantially more than $5 million from its operations in less than 18 months.

“We are very pleased and encouraged by these preliminary results, and we will be monitoring closely as ballots continue to be counted and certified,” Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael said on election night. “If this outcome holds, it reflects the trust this community is placing in our schools and our students.”

What the levy actually pays for

Replacement levies in Washington fund the things state basic-education dollars do not cover: school nurses, counselors, safety officers, athletics, music, Advanced Placement courses, custodians, after-school programs, and curriculum materials. North Mason has been operating without levy funding in 2026 — a situation almost no comparably sized district in the Puget Sound region has had to navigate.

The day-to-day evidence has been visible at North Mason High School and the middle school all year: thinner athletic schedules, reduced extracurriculars, fewer support staff in the buildings, and curriculum decisions made under tight constraints. The Bulldogs’ spring sports season has continued, but families have absorbed more of the cost.

The catch: passage doesn’t reverse 2026

Even if certification holds, the money does not arrive immediately. The first levy revenue would not flow to the district until April 2027 at the earliest. That timing means programs already cut — including the two administrative positions and the $1.3 million in operating reductions — will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year.

“Those funds would allow us to avoid making additional reductions, but because we are operating with only a partial year of levy revenue even in a passage scenario, we would not be in a position to restore programs or positions already reduced,” Michael said in a statement issued before the vote.

That nuance matters for families who voted yes expecting a quick rebound. The realistic frame is: passage stabilizes the floor and prevents another round of cuts. Restoration of what was lost is a longer conversation that depends on enrollment, state funding formulas, and the district’s reserve position by the time levy money lands.

Why this vote was different

North Mason had not just lost a levy — it had lost two. The February 2025 measure missed the threshold. The fall 2025 attempt failed again. Each defeat tightened the district’s operating posture, and each round of cuts changed the conversation. By April 2026, the choice in front of voters was no longer abstract; it was a referendum on a school district that had been visibly bleeding.

The district responded by listening. Lower rate. Fewer administrators. More transparent reporting on where the money goes. Whether that read as humility or as accountability depended on the voter — but the ballots suggest a meaningful share of the electorate that voted no in 2025 was willing to vote yes in 2026 once the ask was reframed.

What to watch this week

Three things will determine whether the 53.5% lead holds. First, the late-arriving ballots: in Mason County’s recent history, late-counted votes tend to drift slightly more progressive on tax measures, which would help — but the margin in this race is narrow enough that a swing is possible. Second, the challenged-ballot review on May 7. Third, certification on May 8, after which the result is final.

School board members Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas will be working through what passage means for the 2026-27 budget cycle. Their next meetings — held at the district office at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair — will be the first public window into what stabilization looks like.

For now: results are leading, not certified. The community that just put two defeats behind it has reason to be cautiously optimistic and every reason to keep watching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the North Mason School District levy pass on April 28, 2026?

The levy is leading with 53.50% yes votes (2,130 to 1,851) in early returns from the Mason and Kitsap county auditors. Results are not certified. The Mason County Canvassing Board will certify on May 8, 2026, after a challenged-ballot review on May 7.

How much will the North Mason levy cost a homeowner?

The April 2026 levy is set at $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value — about $33 per month on a $400,000 North Mason home. That is lower than the $1.28 rate attached to the two failed 2025 measures.

When will levy money actually reach North Mason schools if the result is certified?

The first revenue would arrive no earlier than April 2027. That means programs already cut — including two administrative positions and $1.3 million in other reductions made before the April 2026 vote — will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year.

What programs does the North Mason levy fund?

Replacement levies fund items state basic-education dollars do not cover: school nurses, counselors, safety officers, athletics, music, Advanced Placement courses, custodians, after-school programs, and curriculum materials.

Where can I track the official North Mason levy results?

The official source is the Washington Secretary of State results portal at results.vote.wa.gov/results/20260428/mason/. The Mason County Auditor’s elections page at masoncountywa.gov mirrors the certified totals.

What happens if the lead doesn’t hold through certification?

If the levy fails certification, North Mason would face a third consecutive defeat and would continue operating without levy funding through 2026 and beyond, almost certainly triggering another round of program cuts heading into 2026-27.

Related coverage on Tygart Media: North Mason’s Third Levy Vote Is April 28 — Here’s Everything Belfair Needs to Know · The Levy in Initial Counts: What a Third Defeat Would Trigger · North Mason Schools: Ratings & Programs

After two consecutive defeats and more than a year of painful budget cuts, the North Mason School District’s levy is leading in early returns — but results are not yet certified.

According to the Mason County Auditor’s Office, the April 28 special election produced 2,130 yes votes (53.50%) and 1,851 no votes (46.50%) in combined Mason and Kitsap county totals as of election night. The Mason County Auditor’s website notes that ballot processing continues through May 7, 2026. These are preliminary results. Final certified totals are available at results.vote.wa.gov.

Superintendent Kristine Michael responded cautiously. “We are very pleased and encouraged by these preliminary results, and we will be monitoring closely as ballots continue to be counted and certified,” Michael told local media on election night. “If this outcome holds, it reflects the trust this community is placing in our schools and our students.”

The district lowered its ask substantially heading into this vote. The April levy requests $18.9 million over four years at a rate of $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value — down from the $1.28 rate attached to the two 2025 proposals that both failed. Before the election, the district also made $1.3 million in additional cuts and eliminated two administrative positions as a concession to community feedback.

The levy funds programs that state basic education dollars don’t cover: safety officers, school nurses, counselors, athletics, music, Advanced Placement courses, custodians, and curriculum materials. North Mason has been operating without levy funding in 2026 following back-to-back 2025 failures, which forced the district to cut roughly $4.5 million from its budget.

Even if the levy is certified, funds won’t arrive until April 2027 at the earliest — meaning the programs already cut will not be immediately restored. “Those funds would allow us to avoid making additional reductions, but because we are operating with only a partial year of levy revenue even in a passage scenario, we would not be in a position to restore programs or positions already reduced,” Michael said in a prior statement.

The school board is composed of Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas, with Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael leading the district from its Belfair campus at 250 E. Campus Drive, Belfair, WA 98528, (360) 277-2300.

This story will be updated when results are certified by the Mason County Auditor. Track live results at results.vote.wa.gov.

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If you own property in North Mason — in Belfair, Allyn, Tahuya, Union, or anywhere else in the district boundaries — Tuesday’s levy result affects both your tax bill and the value of what you own.

The North Mason School District’s April 28 replacement levy is trailing in initial counts: 46.2% yes against 53.8% no, per the Mason County Auditor’s Office. That’s a third consecutive defeat — February 2025, November 2025, and now April 2026 — for a district that has been warning about program cuts with increasing urgency at each cycle.

The Tax Question

The April 28 levy asked for $18.9 million over four years at approximately $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value. On a home assessed at $400,000 in North Mason, that’s roughly $404 per year — about $33.67 per month.

If the levy fails, you don’t pay that amount. That’s the short-term math many no votes were making.

The longer-term math is more complicated. Research on school quality and real estate values is consistent: communities with strong, funded school programs sustain higher property values. Districts where programs are cut — especially visible programs like athletics and music — often see changes in who chooses to live there, how long families stay, and what buyers are willing to pay. In a market like North Mason’s, where the SR-3 corridor is seeing commercial investment and the PUD electrical infrastructure is being upgraded for growth, school quality is a factor in the community’s trajectory.

What Fails if the Levy Fails

The district is required to adopt a balanced budget. Without levy revenue, programs that are not state-funded must be cut. The explicitly at-risk list: middle and high school athletics, music programs, elective and Advanced Placement courses, school security officers, and after-school programming.

The district has already made $1.3 million in internal cuts — including eliminating two administrative positions — to demonstrate fiscal discipline before asking voters again. That means there is no remaining administrative buffer to absorb another defeat. The cuts, if they come, will be visible and program-level.

The Certification Timeline

Election night results are not final. The Mason County Auditor will count remaining ballots over the coming weeks before certifying the outcome. If the levy is ultimately certified as defeated, the district board will need to authorize cuts before the 2026–27 school year budget is adopted — a process that will happen this summer.

North Mason property owners who want to track results can follow the Mason County Auditor at masoncountywa.gov and the district at northmasonschools.org.

For the full election results story and program impact details, read the Belfair Bugle’s levy coverage. For context on property values in the broader North Mason market, see Belfair real estate in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions for North Mason Property Owners

What was the property tax cost of the North Mason April 2026 levy?

Approximately $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value per year — roughly $404/year on a $400,000 home, or about $33.67/month.

Does a failed school levy affect property values in North Mason?

Research consistently shows school program quality affects residential desirability and property values over time. Visible program cuts — particularly to athletics, music, and AP courses — can influence which families choose to buy in a community and for how long they stay.

Will property taxes go down if the levy fails?

The levy would have added approximately $1.01/$1,000 assessed value to your bill. If it fails, that specific addition is not collected. However, other property tax levies and district assessments are not affected by this vote.

Can North Mason pass another levy if this one fails?

Yes, but Washington state law restricts timing and frequency of levy elections. The board would need to evaluate legal windows for a future measure. Three consecutive defeats make the political path harder, though not impossible.

If your kids are in North Mason schools right now — at North Mason High School, Hawkins Middle School, or the elementary campuses in Belfair and Belfair’s surrounding neighborhoods — Tuesday’s election results matter directly to what their school year looks like starting in September.

The North Mason School District’s April 28 replacement levy is trailing in initial Mason County Auditor counts: 46.2% yes (1,566 votes) against 53.8% no (1,814 votes). If that holds through certification, it’s three consecutive levy defeats — February 2025, November 2025, now April 2026 — and the program cuts the district has been warning about become real for the 2026–27 school year.

Which Programs Are at Risk

The district has been explicit about what levy funding covers — and what disappears without it. For North Mason parents, the list is not abstract:

• Athletics: The Bulldog program at North Mason High School — varsity, JV, and middle school sports — is levy-funded. No levy, no sports as currently structured.
• Music: Band, choir, and music electives at the middle and high school level are at risk.
• Advanced Placement courses: North Mason High’s AP offerings — the classes that let students earn college credit before graduation — depend on levy funding for staffing.
• Elective courses: The range of electives that let students pursue interests beyond core academics.
• Security officers: Campus security at North Mason schools is levy-funded.
• After-school programs: Extended learning and enrichment activities funded through the levy.

The district has already made $1.3 million in internal cuts — including two administrative positions — ahead of this vote. There is no remaining cushion to absorb another defeat without cutting programs.

The Timeline Parents Need to Know

Election night counts are not final. The Mason County Auditor will continue counting remaining ballots for several weeks before certifying results. That certification date matters because the district must build and adopt its 2026–27 budget before fall semester begins — and the budget must be balanced by law.

If the levy is certified as defeated, district administrators and the board will need to announce program cuts with enough lead time for families and student-athletes to plan. Decisions about fall sports rosters, AP course offerings, and staffing assignments for next year will be made this summer.

The practical question for North Mason families: don’t wait for formal announcements if you have a student committed to a fall sport, enrolled in AP classes, or counting on specific electives. Watch the district’s communications at northmasonschools.org closely over the next four to six weeks.

What Parents Can Do Now

Results are not certified. If you want to make your voice heard on what happens next, the path is through the North Mason School Board. Board meetings are public. School board members represent your community’s priorities — this is the right venue to show up, speak, and be counted before cuts are finalized.

Check the district’s website for the next board meeting date and agenda. Public comment is available at every regular session.

Read the full election results story at the Belfair Bugle’s levy coverage. For context on how North Mason’s schools compare to neighboring districts, see our full levy explainer from before the vote.

Frequently Asked Questions for North Mason Parents

Will North Mason High School sports be cut if the levy fails?

The Bulldog athletics program at North Mason High — including varsity and JV sports — is levy-funded and explicitly listed among programs at risk if the levy fails. Middle school athletics would also be affected.

Are AP classes at North Mason High at risk?

Yes. Advanced Placement course offerings at North Mason High School are listed as levy-dependent. A third consecutive levy failure would put AP staffing and course availability at risk for the 2026–27 school year.

When will we know for sure if the North Mason levy failed?

The Mason County Auditor certifies election results within several weeks of election night after all remaining ballots are counted. Initial results on election night are unofficial.

When would program cuts take effect?

Cuts would be implemented for the 2026–27 school year, which begins in fall 2026. The district must adopt a balanced budget before the school year starts, so program decisions will be made this summer.

The votes have been counted, and the news is hard: North Mason School District’s April 28 replacement levy is trailing in initial ballot results from the Mason County Auditor’s Office — 46.2% in favor with 1,566 yes votes against 1,814 no votes. If the margin holds through certification, it will be the district’s third consecutive levy defeat, following failures in February 2025 and November 2025.

For Belfair families, North Mason parents, and anyone who cares about what happens inside North Mason High School and the district’s middle schools, the stakes are not abstract. District leadership has been explicit: programs funded by the levy — athletics, music, electives, Advanced Placement courses, security officers, and after-school programming — are on the chopping block for the 2026–27 school year if the levy fails to pass.

What This Levy Was Asking

The April 28 measure sought $18.9 million over four years, covering the 2027–2030 collection period, at an estimated rate of $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That figure was $3.4 million less than the November 2025 proposal — a deliberate reduction after community members said the prior ask was too large.

The district entered 2026 already operating without levy revenue. Following last year’s two defeats, administrators announced $1.3 million in budget reductions, including the elimination of two administrative positions — moves intended to demonstrate fiscal accountability before asking voters again.

What Fails When a Levy Fails in North Mason

Washington state funds basic education. Levies fund the rest — the programs that make school feel like more than warehousing kids. In North Mason, the levy-dependent program list includes:

• Middle and high school athletics (the Bulldogs program)
• Music programs at all levels
• Elective courses and Advanced Placement offerings at North Mason High School
• School security officers
• After-school programming

These are not luxury extras. For many students at North Mason High, athletics and electives are the primary reason they show up engaged every day. For families weighing whether to remain in or relocate to North Mason, the strength of the school program is part of the calculus — especially families connected to PSNS and Bangor Naval Base who have housing options across Kitsap County.

Three Consecutive Defeats: The Pattern

February 2025: levy defeated. November 2025: levy defeated with a larger ask. April 2026: levy trailing again with a reduced ask. Each cycle has involved the same community tension — recognition that programs matter, resistance to the tax impact.

The April 28 measure was the smallest ask of the three. The district had already cut $1.3 million internally. The rate of $1.01 per $1,000 assessed value was positioned as a compromise. And it’s still trailing.

What this tells district leadership — and what it should tell the community — is that this isn’t primarily a messaging problem or an ask-size problem. It is a trust and prioritization problem that requires a different kind of community conversation than any levy campaign has yet produced.

What Happens Next

Results are not final. Certification takes several weeks as remaining ballots are processed and verified by the Mason County Auditor’s Office. The initial count reflects ballots received through election night; additional votes will continue to be tabulated.

If the levy is certified as defeated, the North Mason School District Board of Directors will face decisions about the 2026–27 school year budget before the fall semester begins. Program cuts would take effect at the start of next school year. The district is required to adopt a balanced budget, meaning cuts are not optional if levy funding doesn’t materialize.

The district could return to voters with another measure, but Washington state law limits the timing and frequency of levy elections. The path forward is narrow.

For updates, follow North Mason School District directly at northmasonschools.org and on Facebook at North Mason School District. The Mason County Auditor’s Office posts updated results at masoncountywa.gov.

For context on the Belfair community’s broader development and housing picture — factors that shape who votes and who stays in North Mason — see our coverage of Belfair real estate in 2026 and how military families at PSNS weigh North Mason housing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the North Mason levy fail on April 28, 2026?

The levy is trailing in initial counts — 46.2% yes (1,566 votes) to 53.8% no (1,814 votes) — but the result is not yet certified. The Mason County Auditor will continue tabulating remaining ballots over the coming weeks before certifying the outcome.

What programs would be cut if the North Mason levy fails?

The district has identified middle and high school athletics, music programs, elective and Advanced Placement courses, school security officers, and after-school programming as levy-dependent and subject to cuts in the 2026–27 school year.

How many times has North Mason’s levy failed?

Three times in consecutive elections: February 2025, November 2025, and now appearing to fail on April 28, 2026. Each election featured a different ask amount.

How much was the April 2026 North Mason levy?

$18.9 million over four years (2027–2030) at approximately $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value — $3.4 million less than the failed November 2025 proposal.

When will the North Mason levy results be certified?

The Mason County Auditor’s Office will certify election results within several weeks of election night as all remaining ballots are counted. Track updates at masoncountywa.gov/auditor/elections.

Can North Mason run another levy if this one fails?

Yes, but Washington state law limits levy election timing and frequency. The district would need to evaluate what date and format a future measure could take. There is no automatic next vote — it requires a board decision and legal review of available election windows.