Many students and parents in various schools are questioning how the Pasco School District uses its funds and where that money goes. They wonder how the district spends its money equitably to support all students from kindergarten through high school. A pressing concern is how the Pasco School District plans to address its growing debt.
According to K-12 news, the government has recently approved a $79 billion bill that funds the Education Department, providing states with the necessary money to support schools nationwide. This is undoubtedly great news, as it means school districts across the country will have enough funds to care for their students, staff, and communities. However, many individuals in Pasco, WA, are left wondering what this means for them as a community, a city, and a state. Will the school district finally find a solution to address its increasing debt, or will it continue to resort to budget cuts that could threaten many teachers and staff in the community? Let’s examine the publicly available numbers.
According to the school district’s F-195 budget and funding report for the 2025-2026 school year, the district’s budget totals $339,185,016. Last year’s budget for the 2024-2025 school year was $331,636,535, indicating an increase of around $7.5 million. The school district receives its funding from the federal government, state government, and local taxes. The report states that the district will receive or has received $201,967,980 from general state purpose funding and $77,035,646 from special state purpose funding. In the federal government section, the school reports no income for general purposes but has received special funds totaling $24,400,400. Local taxes contribute $32,021,590. There are other various sources of funding, but we will focus on these main contributions.
The 2026 levy replaces the previous levy, allowing continued funding for many student programs and helping the district maintain its operations. The school district reported it would receive an additional $35.5 million in funding, along with an additional $14 million in LEA funds. However, the levy was not approved by voters in the Pasco community, with 50.4% voting against it, according to the Tri-City Herald. Could this be the first time in over 26 years that a levy has been rejected? Here’s what some individuals had to say regarding the budget report and the replacement levy.
I recently asked my father, a Pasco resident, for his thoughts on the situation. He responded, “In my opinion, I feel like the school district needs to provide better results and prove that it is responsibly using funds to improve student grades and prepare them for the real world.” After hearing his perspective, I understand his point of view, and I assume many other residents feel similarly.
Another person I interviewed was Miguel Tello, a senior at Pasco Senior High School. I asked him about the school’s budget and the levy results. He replied, “It’s crazy to think that the school receives so much funding, yet the school lunches are bland and many teachers mention how tight the school resources are. I understand that the school district has to take care of many other schools, but it feels like everything at Pasco High is old and somewhat outdated.” Miguel raises valid points, and I can relate to his feelings about the school’s aging facilities, despite the presence of new computers and touch-enabled screens for teachers.
Another individual I spoke with, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared their concerns about the failed levy and the school budget report. They said, “I think whoever is in charge of the school’s funding should be fired and held responsible. I’ve heard that the school’s debt is increasing, yet it feels like the money isn’t being used properly. I believe the levy is necessary, but whoever manages the funds is irresponsible and untrustworthy; they need to improve.” They also mentioned, “It’s frustrating that the school spends more money than it makes. I can’t say for certain, but it’s worrisome to me.”
Overall, it seems clear that many in the community struggle to trust the district’s handling of funds and its overall decisions. The school district plans to put the levy back on the ballot in April, hoping for approval from Pasco community members. However, given its rejection the first time, I personally doubt it will pass again, leaving the future of the levy uncertain. If the levy does not pass, the school will lose the $35.5 million fund, along with the additional LEA fund of $14 million.
