North Mason School District Replacement Levy: Passed Election Results, Tax Rates & 2026–2027 School Programs

Updated Nov 2, 2026 — refreshed with certified election results, authorized collection schedule, and 2026–2027 program allocations.

The votes have been counted and certified, and the community has delivered a decisive verdict: North Mason School District’s April 28 replacement Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) levy officially passed and was certified by the Mason County Canvassing Board with a 55.04% voter majority in Mason County (2,656 Yes votes to 2,170 No votes) and a 53.61% district-wide approval margin. The certified victory halts a painful multi-year funding crisis, following previous defeats in February 2025 and November 2025.

For Belfair families, North Mason parents, and students across North Mason High School, Hawkins Middle School, and neighborhood elementary campuses, the community’s approval restores vital educational stability. With replacement levy funding certified and locked in, critical programs that hung on the chopping block — athletics, music, arts, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, campus security officers, nurses, and after-school programming — are fully funded and operational for the active 2026–2027 school year.

What This Passed Levy Authorizes: Funding & Tax Rates

The approved measure authorizes a three-year collection schedule totaling $17.25 million: $5.45 million in 2025, $5.75 million in 2026, and $6.05 million in 2027. The estimated tax rate is approximately $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation — a stabilized rate that replaces an expiring levy without escalating statutory local tax burdens.

The district entered 2026 operating under strict fiscal discipline. Following 2025’s defeats, administrators enacted $1.3 million in internal budget reductions, including the elimination of two administrative positions, demonstrating operational accountability before presenting this restructured compromise measure to district voters.

What the Passed Levy Funds: 2026–2027 Program Allocations

Washington state funds basic education. Local EP&O replacement levies fund the rest — the personnel, extracurricular opportunities, and safety resources that make public schools supportive communities. In North Mason School District No. 403, the passed replacement levy guarantees funding across four essential program areas for the 2026–2027 school year:

• Staffing & Operations Gaps: Fills unfunded state personnel gaps for certificated classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, librarians, and custodial staff.
• Extracurriculars & Athletics: Preserves middle and high school athletics (Bulldogs football, soccer, basketball, track & field, volleyball), band, choir, drama, robotics, and after-school student clubs.
• Student Safety & Health: Sustains full-time on-site registered school nurses, mental health and behavioral counselors, and campus safety monitors.
• Technology & Transportation: Maintains 1:1 student Chromebook lifecycle upgrades, classroom instructional technology, and vital rural bus transit routes serving Belfair and outlying communities.

These are not luxury extras. For students at North Mason High, athletics and electives provide daily motivation and college readiness. For families weighing whether to settle in Belfair, Allyn, or Grapeview — especially civilian and military personnel connected to PSNS and Bangor Naval Base — school program quality directly influences community retention.

Breaking the Defeat Pattern: How the Compromise Ask Won Voter Approval

February 2025: levy defeated. November 2025: levy defeated with a larger ask. April 2026: North Mason School District leadership engaged community feedback, restructured the ballot measure, and passed it with 55.04% of the certified Mason County vote.

The April 28 proposal reduced the total ask by $3.4 million compared to the November proposal, locking in the stabilized ~$1.50 per $1,000 assessed valuation rate. By pairing administrative reductions with an equitable rate structure, the district successfully rebuilt community trust at the ballot box.

Certified Implementation & 2026–2027 School Year Rollout

The Mason County Canvassing Board officially certified election results on May 8, 2026. Because voters approved the replacement levy, North Mason School District adopted a fully balanced operating budget for the 2026–2027 school year without enacting catastrophic program or personnel eliminations. Tax collections follow the approved multi-year statutory schedule.

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 official election documentation 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.

Mason County Property Tax Relief & Senior Exemptions (RCW 84.36.381)

Qualifying North Mason homeowners can access substantial property tax relief under Washington State law (RCW 84.36.381). The program provides property tax exemptions or deferrals for qualifying senior citizens (age 61 and older) and persons retired due to disability, based on county median household income thresholds administered by the Mason County Assessor:

• Income Threshold 1 (IT1) — Up to $53,000: Exempts all excess property taxes (including this school replacement levy) and exempts local regular taxes on the greater of $80,000 or 80% of assessed valuation.
• Income Threshold 2 (IT2) — Up to $61,000: Exempts all excess property taxes and exempts local regular taxes on the greater of $70,000 or 45% of assessed valuation (up to a $200,000 maximum).
• Income Threshold 3 (IT3) — Up to $70,000: Exempts all local voter-approved excess property taxes, providing direct relief from the North Mason replacement EP&O levy.
• Senior/Disabled Deferral Threshold: Homeowners with combined disposable income up to $78,411 may apply to defer payment of up to 80% of property taxes.

Applicants must own and occupy the property as their primary residence for more than six months of the calendar year and submit verification of combined disposable income to the Mason County Assessor’s Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. The North Mason School District replacement EP&O levy was officially certified by the Mason County Canvassing Board on May 8, 2026, passing with 55.04% of the vote in Mason County (2,656 Yes to 2,170 No) and 53.61% district-wide approval.

What school programs does the passed North Mason levy fund?

The levy provides essential funding for athletics, band, choir, art, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, registered school nurses, mental health counselors, school safety monitors, 1:1 Chromebooks, and rural bus routes for the active 2026–2027 school year.

How much is the approved North Mason replacement levy?

The levy authorizes collections of $5.45 million in 2025, $5.75 million in 2026, and $6.05 million in 2027, at an estimated tax rate of ~$1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

Are senior citizens exempt from the North Mason school levy?

Qualifying Mason County senior citizens (age 61+) and disabled homeowners with combined disposable income up to $70,000 (Income Threshold 3) are fully exempt from local excess levies under RCW 84.36.381 through the Mason County Assessor’s Office.