Early election results show Yakima School District bond with 60.09% approval

Special election results Tuesday showed the Yakima School District's $200 million bond hovering in approval territory.聽

The unofficial results had 60.09% of voters approving the bond, with 39.91% voting no;聽3,845 yes votes to 2,554 no votes. The bond needs a聽60% plus one approval to pass.聽

Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross estimated 500 to 800 votes still need to be counted. An update is planned Wednesday afternoon.

The bond would provide funding to replace Hoover and Garfield elementary schools, which are 78 and 59 years old respectively, and make other facility improvements across the district.

Superintendent Trevor Greene said he's staying cautiously optimistic. But the current results show the great work of the people who advocated for the bond and those who recognize the need for it, he said.

Unofficial results show a 17.1% voter turnout for the special election.

If the bond is approved, it would be the Yakima district's first bond in more than 15 years.聽

While replacing Hoover and Garfield are a big part of the bond, it would benefit all 24 schools in the district in some form. Other improvements include accessibility, HVAC replacements, playground upgrades, roof repairs and replacements, and sidewalks and paving. The bond will also support turf replacement, track resurfacing and court repairs.

If approved, the district would be eligible for a $20 million state funding match.

The school district would split the upcoming bond into two sale dates, in fall 2026 and June 2028. The property tax impact is estimated to be $246 annually, or $20.50 per month, for a house valued at $311,600.

The district estimates the new bond would raise the school district property tax rate from $3.21 per $1,000 in 2026 to $4.01 per $1,000 in 2027, then drop to $3.84 per $1,000 in 2033. That number includes both the local instructional levy and bonds. The estimates assume a consistent local levy rate of $2.50 per $1,000 for operations. An older bond will expire in 2032.

The election results will be certified on May 8.