Lake Chelan School Board approves $73 million bond for November ballot

CHELAN — The Lake Chelan School Board voted unanimously on June 9 to place a $73 million bond measure on the Nov. 4 ballot, aiming to fund major facility upgrades that district leaders say are essential for student safety, accessibility, and workforce readiness.

The proposed bond would replace Morgen Owings Elementary, integrate preschool classrooms into the new elementary facility, update trades programs at Chelan Middle and High School, and make multiple upgrades to athletic and fitness infrastructure.

“We are committed to providing Lake Chelan students access to learning spaces where they are safe and can learn the skills to be successful in today’s world,” said School Board Chair Kim Thorpe. “This bond would address our most immediate facilities needs to provide a safe and modern school for our youngest learners and give our secondary students access to develop skills to be leaders in the community. Our priority has always been to make decisions based on community input while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We believe that now is the right time to make these updates to ensure we are upholding the commitments in our strategic plan. Passage of this bond would also bring $4 million back to our community from taxes that have already been paid to the state.”

The board’s decision followed nearly two years of work by the Facilities Advisory Team, which studied enrollment trends, infrastructure needs, and options for state funding. District officials said the projects represent the most urgent needs aligned with Lake Chelan School District’s strategic plan.

If approved, the bond would fund:

• A new elementary school on district-owned, shovel-ready property
  
  
• Integration of preschool facilities into the elementary campus with expanded class offerings
  
  
• Industry-standard upgrades to wood and metal trades shops
  
  
• A new, ADA-accessible fitness center at Chelan Middle/High School
  
  
• Improvements to Mountain Goat Field, including a regulation-size track, bleachers, restrooms, and parking
  
  

District officials estimate the bond would cost property owners approximately $0.93 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home valued at $500,000, that amounts to an additional $38.75 per month, or $465 annually. Even with the increase, LCSD would maintain the second-lowest school property tax rate in the region, according to the district.

The district is also eligible for $4 million in state construction assistance to offset the cost of replacing Morgen Owings Elementary—funds that would only become available if voters approve the bond.

As of 2025, approximately 55 percent of Chelan’s property tax base is composed of out-of-town property owners. The district noted that as the local tax base grows, individual tax rates may decrease.