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.
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